Mermentau River facts for kids
The Mermentau River (French: Rivière Mermentau) is a 72.3-mile (116.3 km) long river in southern Louisiana in the United States. It flows into the Gulf of Mexico between Calcasieu Lake and Vermilion Bay.
The Mermentau River provides fresh water for the Mermentau Basin. This area includes large freshwater lakes like Grand Lake and White Lake, along with wetlands. These areas are kept separate from saltwater by special water control structures.
A big part of the land in this basin is protected as Federal refuges and State wildlife management areas. It is said that the famous pirate Jean Lafitte might have sailed into this area long ago, perhaps even hiding treasure!
In the early 1900s, W. Scott Heywood from Jennings started using barges on the river. He used them to transport oil, which he had discovered in 1901. Later, in 1932, Heywood was elected to the Louisiana State Senate, representing a large part of southwestern Louisiana.
Interesting Places Along the River
The Mermentau River is home to a place sometimes called "Skull Island," located near the small village of Grand Chenier. This island has a mysterious and sad history, with stories from long ago.
