Lake Pontchartrain
Just north of New Orleans in the southeastern part of the State of Louisiana lies Lake Pontchartrain.
Though widely known as a lake, Lake Pontchartrain is actually an oval-shaped brackish estuary that covers an area of around 630 square miles. It is linked to the Gulf of Mexico via the Chef Menteur Pass and Rigolets Straits into Lake Borgne in the east. It has an average depth of 12 to 14 feet. Some parts are made deeper though through
dredging in order to accommodate ships.
The Causeway
Spanning across Lake Pontchartrain are two parallel bridges called the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Spanning 23 miles (37 km), the Causeway is among the longest bridges in the world, second only to the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China. Many believe though that the Causeway is the longer between the two considering that it is uninterrupted and a longer part of it is actually above water.
History of the lake
Known to the Native Americans as Okwata or Wild Water, Lake Pontchartrain was formed 2,600 to 4,000 years ago as the Mississippi River evolved eventually forming its southern and eastern shorelines with alluvial deposits. The name Pontchartrain was given to the estuary by the French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in honor of the comte de Pontchartrain, Louis Ph??lypeaux. The region became inhabited around 3,500 but it was only when the Europeans arrived that the population in the area grew rapidly.
Attractions
Lake Pontchartrain is popular among picnickers because of its beaches. The lake itself is relatively shallow making it ideal and safe for various water activities such as swimming and kayaking. An interesting fact about Lake Pontchartrain is that it is actually a saltwater estuary, the second largest in the world. If you are not the type who enjoys water activities, you can still enjoy the lake's surroundings. A number of state parks line the edge of the water where people can go camping or simply go on a hike and enjoy nature.
Of course, driving along the Causeway is an attraction in itself because the view from the bridge is simply marvelous. It is a fact that driving on the Causeway is on the bucket list of many individuals. It is hard to slow down while you are on the bridge though because of the speeding traffic.
Haven for Fishing enthusiasts
Many varieties of fish can be found in Lake Pontchartrain making it a popular destination among fishing enthusiasts. The most common catch in this estuary is the spotted sea trout but the lake is also home to black drum, red fish and flounder. If you are planning to fish in the lake using a small boat, it would be wise for you to stick near the shore because waters can get rough in the lake even if it is just shallow. Even if you have a large vessel, it is always advisable to exercise caution especially if you notice the weather turning bad. The best time to go fishing at Lake Pontchartrain is during fall when fish start gathering at the pilings of the Causeway in preparation for winter.
For more information please visit the Lake Pontchartrain Visitors Guide.
Though widely known as a lake, Lake Pontchartrain is actually an oval-shaped brackish estuary that covers an area of around 630 square miles. It is linked to the Gulf of Mexico via the Chef Menteur Pass and Rigolets Straits into Lake Borgne in the east. It has an average depth of 12 to 14 feet. Some parts are made deeper though through
dredging in order to accommodate ships.
The Causeway
Spanning across Lake Pontchartrain are two parallel bridges called the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Spanning 23 miles (37 km), the Causeway is among the longest bridges in the world, second only to the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China. Many believe though that the Causeway is the longer between the two considering that it is uninterrupted and a longer part of it is actually above water.
History of the lake
Known to the Native Americans as Okwata or Wild Water, Lake Pontchartrain was formed 2,600 to 4,000 years ago as the Mississippi River evolved eventually forming its southern and eastern shorelines with alluvial deposits. The name Pontchartrain was given to the estuary by the French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in honor of the comte de Pontchartrain, Louis Ph??lypeaux. The region became inhabited around 3,500 but it was only when the Europeans arrived that the population in the area grew rapidly.
Attractions
Lake Pontchartrain is popular among picnickers because of its beaches. The lake itself is relatively shallow making it ideal and safe for various water activities such as swimming and kayaking. An interesting fact about Lake Pontchartrain is that it is actually a saltwater estuary, the second largest in the world. If you are not the type who enjoys water activities, you can still enjoy the lake's surroundings. A number of state parks line the edge of the water where people can go camping or simply go on a hike and enjoy nature.
Of course, driving along the Causeway is an attraction in itself because the view from the bridge is simply marvelous. It is a fact that driving on the Causeway is on the bucket list of many individuals. It is hard to slow down while you are on the bridge though because of the speeding traffic.
Haven for Fishing enthusiasts
Many varieties of fish can be found in Lake Pontchartrain making it a popular destination among fishing enthusiasts. The most common catch in this estuary is the spotted sea trout but the lake is also home to black drum, red fish and flounder. If you are planning to fish in the lake using a small boat, it would be wise for you to stick near the shore because waters can get rough in the lake even if it is just shallow. Even if you have a large vessel, it is always advisable to exercise caution especially if you notice the weather turning bad. The best time to go fishing at Lake Pontchartrain is during fall when fish start gathering at the pilings of the Causeway in preparation for winter.
For more information please visit the Lake Pontchartrain Visitors Guide.
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