Lake Pontchartrain – Louisiana
Beautiful Lake Pontchartrain is the largest inland body of water in Louisiana. It spans 610 square miles with an average depth of 14 feet. Lake Pontchartrain was naturally created 2,600 to 4,000 years ago by the ever changing Mississippi Delta, and is a habitat for a great variety of fish, birds and other wildlife.
The famous wetlands and marshes that surround the Basin’s waters provide a beautiful setting for wildlife and are the heart of the region’s commercial and recreational fisheries. Lake Pontchartrain is named after the French Politician Louis Phélypeaux who was the the chancellor de Pontchartrain in 1699. Lake Pontchartrain is surrounded by peaceful swamps, rivers and forests.
The Causeway holds the title for the longest bridge over water at 23 miles long. It officially opened in 1956, and cut travel time from North Shore communities to the city of New Orleans by 50 minutes. The Causeway operates as a toll road, and offers a majestic view of the lake as you lose sight of land in all directions along the 23 mile drive.
Lake Pontchartrain contains more than 100 documented species of fish. Sciaenids populate mostly in the saltier eastern regions. Centrarchids are more commonly found in freshwater streams and swamps that drain into the lake.Read More…
Fontainebleau State Park is one of many spectacular camping areas along Lake Pontchartrain. Located on the south shore of the lake, Fontainebleau State Park offers a variety of activities such as swimming on the sandy beach, cycling, hiking and fishing. The park offers lakefront cabins and scenic campgrounds throughout. Read More…