Lake Charles (Louisiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Charles |
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Lake Charles from North Beach along Interstate 10
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 Lake Charles
Location in Louisiana
Lake Charles
Location in the United States
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| Location | Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Coordinates | 30°13′46″N 093°14′05″W / 30.22944°N 93.23472°W |
| Type | Brackish |
| Primary inflows | Calcasieu River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Average depth | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Settlements | City of Lake Charles |
- For other lakes of this name, see Lake Charles (disambiguation)
Lake Charles (which is Lac Charles in French) is a special kind of lake. It has brackish water, meaning it's a mix of fresh and salty water. This lake is found on the Calcasieu River in Southwest Louisiana, United States. Most of the lake is right inside the city of Lake Charles.
A big waterway called the Calcasieu Ship Channel runs along the west side of the lake. This channel allows large ships to travel through. It also marks the western edge of the city. The I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge crosses the lake and river. This bridge connects the city of Lake Charles with the city of Westlake.
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About Lake Charles
Lake Charles is an important part of the area's environment. It connects to the Calcasieu River system. This system flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake's unique water mix supports different kinds of plants and animals.
Water Quality Concerns
For many years, there have been worries about the water quality in Lake Charles. In 1994, a large chemical spill happened. This spill affected the lake and the nearby Calcasieu River. It was one of the biggest chemical spills in U.S. history.
The spill caused pollution in the river and its connected areas. This included places like Bayou d'Inde and Bayou Verdine. People and government groups worked to address the pollution. They wanted to make sure the environment was cleaned up.
The Calcasieu River Bridge
The bridge that crosses Lake Charles is a very important road. It is part of Interstate 10. This bridge helps people travel between cities. It also helps businesses move goods.
Bridge Safety and Future Plans
Since 2002, there have been discussions about the safety of the I-10 bridge. People have talked about replacing it with a new one. Experts have studied how to improve the bridge and the roads around it.
As of 2015, some road improvements were made. However, building a completely new bridge was still a future plan. Studies were done to look at the environmental effects of a new bridge. These studies also considered what would happen if no new bridge was built. Decisions about the bridge's future were expected by 2016.
Images for kids
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Lake Charles from North Beach along Interstate 10
