Bay of St. Louis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bay of St. Louis |
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 Bay of St. Louis
Location in Mississippi
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| Location | Southwest coast of Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 30°20′49″N 89°19′01″W / 30.347°N 89.317°W |
| Type | Estuary |
| River sources | Jourdan River Wolf River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Average depth | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Salinity | <20 (average) |
| Settlements | Pass Christian Bay St. Louis Diamondhead |
The Bay of St. Louis (also called St. Louis Bay) is a special type of water body called an estuary. It's located on the southwest coast of Mississippi in the United States. This bay is quite shallow and is partly surrounded by land, connecting to the larger Gulf of Mexico.
What is an Estuary?
An estuary is a place where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean. The Bay of St. Louis gets fresh water from two main rivers: the Jourdan River on its west side and the Wolf River on its east side. Smaller streams like Bayou Portage also add fresh water.
This fresh water then mixes with salty water from the Mississippi Sound and the Mississippi Bight. Because of this mixing, the water in the Bay of St. Louis is not as salty as the ocean, but saltier than a pure freshwater river. Its average saltiness is less than 20 parts per thousand.
Keeping the Bay Healthy
The Bay of St. Louis is a very important natural area. However, it has been identified as an "impaired" waterway by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This means that the water quality isn't as good as it should be.
The main reason for this is pollution from human activities. As towns and cities grow around the bay, things like runoff from streets and homes can carry unhealthy bacteria into the water. Efforts are being made to improve the water quality and protect this valuable estuary for everyone.
