Lac des Allemands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac des Allemands |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Lac des Allemands
Location in Louisiana
Lac des Allemands
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Lafourche / St. Charles / St. John the Baptist parishes, Louisiana, United States |
| Coordinates | 29°55′N 90°34′W / 29.917°N 90.567°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 5.5 mi (8.9 km) |
| Max. width | 6.5 mi (10.5 km) |
| Average depth | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Max. depth | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Surface elevation | Sea level |
Lac des Allemands is a large lake in Louisiana, USA. It covers about 12,000 acres and is located roughly 25 miles (40 km) southwest of New Orleans. The lake's name is French for "Lake of the Germans." This name comes from the early German settlers who made their homes in this part of Louisiana.
Exploring Lac des Allemands
Lac des Allemands is found across three different parishes: Lafourche, St. Charles, and St. John the Baptist. St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes are part of a special area known as the German Coast.
Lake Size and Flow
This lake is quite shallow. Its average depth is about 5 feet (1.5 meters), and its deepest point is around 10 feet (3 meters). It sits mostly at sea level. The lake is about 5.5 miles (8.8 km) long and 6.5 miles (10.4 km) wide.
Water flows into Lac des Allemands from bayous in the Barataria Basin. These include Grand Bayou and Bayou Chevreuil. The lake's water then flows southeast into Bayou Des Allemands. From there, it moves into Lake Salvador and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
What Lives in the Lake?
The area around Lac des Allemands is surrounded by cypress swamps. The many bayous and canals here create a great home for different kinds of fish. You can find catfish, bass, bream, crappie, and panfish here.
Three types of catfish live and reproduce in the lake. These are flathead, channel, and blue catfish. They typically lay their eggs and have their young from May through September.
The Catfish Capital
The community of Des Allemands is located southeast of the lake. It sits right on Bayou Des Allemands. In 1975, the Governor of Louisiana, Edwin Edwards, gave Des Allemands a special title. He declared it the "Catfish Capital of the World." Later, the Louisiana legislature even called it the "Catfish Capital of the Universe."
Every July, the town of Des Allemands celebrates its famous fish. They host the fun and popular Louisiana Catfish Festival.
