No history is complete if it does not take into account the environment of the history being studied. Geography is more than just the backdrop of an area's past, it influences history.

In the case of the Mississagi River Valley, the geology of the area has influenced land use: pockets of the region are suitable for agriculture. Many other places are too rocky and remote for this. The many forests in the area have made it an important lumber region. The abundance of wildlife means that the Mississagi River Valley can support a healthy tourist trade.

Nature continues to be a dominant feature of the Mississagi River Valley.