Pascagoula River facts for kids
The Pascagoula River is a river in southeastern Mississippi, United States. It is about 80 miles (130 km) long. This river drains a huge area of about 8,800 square miles (23,000 km²). It flows into the Mississippi Sound, which is part of the Gulf of Mexico. The Pat Harrison Waterway District helps manage the Pascagoula River Basin.
This river is very special. It is one of the only large rivers in the United States that flows into the Gulf of Mexico without being changed by dams. Because of this, many people work hard to protect the Pascagoula River. They want to make sure no dams are built on it.
Sometimes, the river's water level gets very low, especially during droughts. For example, the water level was only 1.15 feet on September 6, 2015. It was even lower, at 0.2 feet, on October 8, 2000. To help manage the river's flow during dry times, the water district manager has suggested building a couple of dams. These dams would be on smaller streams called Big and Little Cedar creeks.
In George and Jackson counties, which are close to the Gulf, there are special areas for wildlife. These are called Water trails. They offer fun outdoor activities like camping, watching birds, or canoeing in a controlled way.
River's Journey
The Pascagoula River starts in northwestern George County. It forms where two other rivers, the Leaf River and the Chickasawhay River, join together. From there, the Pascagoula River flows south through wet, swampy areas in George and Jackson counties.
As the river gets closer to the Gulf, it splits into several smaller channels and bayous. The biggest of these is the West Pascagoula River. This branch flows into the Mississippi Sound near Gautier. The main part of the river passes by Escatawpa and Moss Point. It then flows into the sound at Pascagoula. When the water is low, the ocean's tides can affect the river for more than forty miles upstream.
Meaning of the Name
The name Pascagoula comes from the Choctaw language. It means "bread people."
Over time, the river has been known by several other names. Some of these include:
- East Pascagoula River (for the part below where the West Pascagoula River branches off)
- Fiume Pescagoula
- Pasca Oocooloo River
- Pascoboula River
- Paska Okla River
- Paspagola River
- Pasquagola River
- Rio de Pascagula
- Riviere des Pascagoula
- Riviere des Pascagoulas
- Singing River (used for the lower 8 miles of the river)
See also
In Spanish: Río Pascagoula para niños
