• 2300 miles

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• Upper River–Itasca to Minneapolis, 493 miles, 14 dams to portage

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• Middle River–Minneapolis to St. Louis. 664 miles, 27 locks and dams

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• Lower River–Ohio River to Gulf–1000 miles and up to 77 miles wide.
• Fluctuates 45-60 feet in a year

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• One river barge=70 semi-trucks. 49 barges to 1 tug.

1980: 35 days +

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2003 Record: 18 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes

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2021 Record: 17 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes (improvement of 9 hours and 4 minutes)

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• Water levels
• Lock waiting times
• Weather

16 Days, 20 Hours, 16 Minutes! A New Record!!

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Ahead of old world record: 23:30:00 (Old record was 17 days, 19 hours and 46 min)