Bayou des Cannes facts for kids

Bayou des Cannes (pronounced "DAI KAIN") is a waterway in southern Louisiana. Its name means "bayou of the reeds" or "bayou of the stalks." This bayou is about 66 miles (106 kilometers) long. You can travel on it by boat near its mouth, where there is a shallow port.

Map of the Mermentau River watershed showing the Mermantau River and its 4 largest tributaries (from left to right) Bayou Nezpique, Bayou des Cannes, Bayou Plaquemine Brule, and Bayou Queue de Tortue.

What is Bayou des Cannes?

Bayou des Cannes is part of the Mermentau River system. It flows through a beautiful natural area. The water moves slowly, and you can see cypress trees covered in moss. The banks are often lined with interesting cypress knees. In the past, people could only travel on the bayou using small boats like pirogues or canoes.

Early Settlers and History

Some of the first people to settle near Bayou des Cannes were Fabien and Louis Richard. They made their homes in this natural area.

During the 1700s, not many Acadians settled in the rougher western prairies of Louisiana. However, some families did. Four Acadian families, totaling 29 people, settled between Bayou des Cannes and Bayou Blaize LeJeune. This was as far west as Acadians had settled for a while.

Later, in 1803, more Acadian families moved into the area. Seven families from Opelousas settled near Bayou des Cannes and other nearby bayous like Bayou Mallet, Bayou Jonas, and Bayou Nezpique.

The Point-Aux-Loups Springs Ballroom

In the 1930s, a special building called the Point-Aux-Loups (pronounced "point-ah-loo") Springs Ballroom was built. Its name means "Wolves Point" in French. This building was originally a large pumping plant. It was built by the Louisiana Irrigation & Mills Company.

How the Pumping Plant Worked

The brick building housed two huge Fairbanks-Morse engines. These engines were very powerful. They could pump 60,000 US gallons (about 227,000 liters) of water per minute! This water was pumped out of Bayou des Cannes.

The water then traveled through special channels called flumes. These flumes carried the water about 0.25 miles (400 meters) above the ground. From there, the water flowed into man-made canals. These canals spread water throughout Acadia Parish. This system was very important for farmers. It helped them irrigate their rice crops, making sure they had enough water to grow.