The Mississippi River is located on the North American Plate, which covers the majority of North America.

The North American Plate, which includes the Mississippi River's extensive watershed, is a tectonic plate that covers much of North America. This plate spans portions of Canada, Mexico, and the eastern United States. The North American Plate's geological characteristics, which have been comparatively constant as compared to other tectonic regions, have an impact on the river even though it has been formed by erosion and sediment deposits.