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List of rivers of Louisiana facts for kids

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Louisiana is a state in the southern United States known for its many rivers, bayous, and waterways. These rivers are super important for the state's environment, economy, and history. They help with transportation, provide homes for wildlife, and are great places for fishing and boating. This article will help you explore the amazing network of rivers that flow through Louisiana.

How Rivers Flow: Drainage Basins

A drainage basin is like a giant bowl where all the rain and water from a specific area collects and flows into a main river or body of water. Think of it as a big funnel! In Louisiana, many rivers eventually lead to the Gulf of Mexico.


Rivers Flowing to the Gulf of Mexico

Many of Louisiana's rivers flow directly into the Gulf of Mexico. These rivers are often divided into those east and west of the mighty Mississippi River.

East of the Mississippi River

*Bogue Falaya: A branch of the Tchefuncte River. **Abita River: A small river joining the Bogue Falaya.

*Sims Creek: A creek that feeds into the Tangipahoa River.

*Lake Maurepas: Another large lake west of Lake Pontchartrain. **Tickfaw River: A river flowing into Lake Maurepas. ***Natalbany River: A tributary of the Tickfaw River. ****Ponchatoula Creek: A creek that flows into the Natalbany River. ***Blood River: Another river joining the Tickfaw. **Amite River: A major river flowing into Lake Maurepas. ***Bayou Manchac: A bayou connected to the Amite River. ***Comite River: A river that joins the Amite. ****Comite Creek: A creek that flows into the Comite River. **Blind River: This river also flows into Lake Maurepas. ***Petite Amite River: A smaller branch of the Blind River. ****New River: A river that flows into the Petite Amite.

  • Bayou Bienvenue: A bayou near New Orleans that connects to the Gulf.

The Mighty Mississippi River

  • Mississippi River: This is one of the longest rivers in North America. It flows all the way from Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico, forming a large part of Louisiana's eastern border.
Distributaries of the Mississippi

A distributary is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main river. The Mississippi River has several important distributaries in Louisiana.

  • Bayou Lafourche: This bayou was once a main channel of the Mississippi River.
    • Bayou Terrebonne: A bayou that branches off Bayou Lafourche.
      • Bayou Black: A smaller bayou connected to Bayou Terrebonne.
      • Bayou du Large: Another bayou connected to Bayou Terrebonne.
      • Bayou Grand Caillou: A bayou in the Terrebonne Parish area.
      • Bayou Petit Caillou: Another bayou in the Terrebonne Parish area.
  • Atchafalaya River: This is the largest distributary of the Mississippi River. It carries a significant amount of water from the Mississippi to the Gulf.
    • Bayou Cocodrie: A bayou that flows into the Atchafalaya.
    • Bayou Teche: A historic bayou that was once a main channel of the Mississippi.
    • Bayou Long: A bayou connected to the Atchafalaya.
      • Belle River: A river that flows into Bayou Long.
        • Big Goddel Bayou: A bayou connected to Belle River.

*Bay Natchez: A bay connected to Big Goddel Bayou. **Chopin Chute: A channel connected to Bay Natchez. ***Lower Grand River: A river connected to Chopin Chute. ****Upper Grand River: The upper part of the Grand River. ****Bayou Plaquemine: A bayou that joins the Grand River.

    • Rouge Bayou: A bayou that flows into the Atchafalaya.
      • Bayou Jack: A bayou connected to Rouge Bayou.
    • Bayou des Glaises: A bayou that flows into the Atchafalaya.
Tributaries of the Mississippi

A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river. While the Mississippi is huge, some smaller waterways do flow into it in Louisiana.

  • Bayou Pierre: A bayou that flows into the Mississippi.
  • Coles Creek: A creek that flows into the Mississippi.
  • Yazoo River: This river joins the Mississippi just north of Louisiana, in Mississippi.
  • Red River: The Red River is a major tributary of the Mississippi.
The Red River System
  • Red River: This important river flows through Louisiana and eventually joins the Mississippi.

*Bayou Bonne Idee: A bayou that joins the Boeuf River. *Bayou Lafourche (Boeuf River tributary): A bayou that flows into the Boeuf River. *Big Creek: A creek that joins the Boeuf River.

        • Bayou D'Arbonne: A bayou that flows into the Ouachita.

*Cornie Bayou: A bayou that joins Bayou D'Arbonne.

        • Bayou de Loutre: A bayou that flows into the Ouachita.
        • Bayou Bartholomew: A long bayou that flows into the Ouachita.
    • Cane River: A historic river that flows into the Red River.
    • Old River (Natchitoches Parish): A former channel of the Red River.
      • Bayou Brevelle: A bayou connected to Old River.
      • Kisatchie Bayou: A bayou that flows into Old River.
    • Saline Bayou: A bayou that joins the Red River.
    • Bayou Pierre: Another bayou that flows into the Red River.
      • Prairie River: A river that joins Bayou Pierre.
    • Loggy Bayou: A bayou that flows into the Red River.
      • Flat River: A river that joins Loggy Bayou.
        • Red Chute Bayou: A bayou that flows into Flat River.

*Bodcau Bayou: A bayou that joins Red Chute Bayou.

      • Dorcheat Bayou: A bayou that flows into Loggy Bayou.
    • Cross Bayou: A bayou that flows into the Red River.

Gulf West of the Mississippi

These rivers are located in the western part of Louisiana and flow directly into the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Vermilion River: A river in southwest Louisiana.
    • Bayou Carencro: A bayou that flows into the Vermilion River.
    • Bayou Fusilier: A bayou that joins the Vermilion River.
      • Bayou Bourbeux: A bayou connected to Bayou Fusilier.
  • Mermentau River: A river in southwest Louisiana that flows into the Gulf.
    • Bayou Queue de Tortue: A bayou that flows into the Mermentau River.
    • Bayou Nezpique: A bayou that joins the Mermentau River.
    • Bayou des Cannes: A bayou that flows into the Mermentau River.
      • Bayou Mallet: A bayou connected to Bayou des Cannes.
    • Bayou Plaquemine Brule: A bayou that flows into the Mermentau River.
      • Bayou Wikoff: A bayou connected to Bayou Plaquemine Brule.
  • Calcasieu Pass / Calcasieu Ship Channel: This is a channel that connects the Calcasieu River to the Gulf.
    • Calcasieu River: A major river in southwest Louisiana.
      • West Fork Calcasieu River: A branch of the Calcasieu River.
    • Ouiski Chitto Creek: A creek that flows into the Calcasieu River.
  • Sabine River: This river forms part of the border between Louisiana and Texas.
    • Old River: A former channel of the Sabine River.
    • Bayou Anacoco: A bayou that flows into the Sabine River.

Alphabetically

Here is an alphabetical list of many rivers and bayous found in Louisiana.

See also

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List of rivers of Louisiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.