Perdido Bay facts for kids
Perdido Bay is a beautiful bay located where the Perdido River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This special river is known as an Outstanding Florida Water. The bay itself is found between Baldwin County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida, in the United States. It's like a large, calm lake near the ocean, surrounded by long, narrow islands called barrier islands. It connects to the ocean through a narrow opening called Perdido Pass.
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Where is Perdido Bay Located?
Perdido Bay is situated to the east of towns in Alabama like Orange Beach and Lillian. To its west are Florida communities such as Pensacola and Perdido Key.
Perdido Bay's Connection to the Ocean
Ono Island is located within the Alabama part of the bay. The border between Florida and Alabama crosses near Perdido Pass. This is where the bay opens up to the Gulf of Mexico. Perdido Pass is also important for boats, as it connects Perdido Bay to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf.
How the 2010 Oil Spill Affected Perdido Bay
In 2010, there was a big oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, called the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To protect Perdido Bay from the oil, the entrance to Perdido Pass was closed with a special barrier system in June 2010.
Protecting the Bay from Oil
The barrier system was put in place to control how much oil-contaminated water could enter Perdido Bay. The ocean's daily high tide was pushing oily water into the bay. The barrier was designed to let boats pass when the tide was flowing out. However, it would close during the incoming tide to stop oil from entering. It also helped collect oil in a special area on the eastern side of the pass.
