Why paddle steamers on Miss.?

[Perry Goves]

Why are paddle steamers specifically on the Missississippi?

[geofbob]

If you mean why are paddle steamers unique to the Mississippi, the short answer is that they aren't and never were - they were used all over the world (including the Thames) and quite a few are still in operation on waters other than the Mississippi. It's just that movies have focussed on the showboat and gambling aspect of the Mississippi cruisers. For more info, put "paddle steamers" into Google or any other Internet search engine.

[geofbob]

PS.For a brief history of the paddle steamer, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_steamer

[apricot]

Paddle steamers have a very small draught and can operate in shallow water which is why they are common on the Mississippi

[incitatus]

also a paddle is less likely to tangle in weed than a propellor. a reason why they appear more on rivers is that they do not cope well with big waves