Perdido Pass facts for kids
Perdido Pass is a natural opening in the land that connects Perdido Bay with the Gulf of Mexico. It's located in Alabama, about 2 miles (3 km) west of the Alabama/Florida state line. This pass separates two areas: Alabama Point and Florida Point.
A bridge crosses Perdido Pass, linking Alabama Point on the west side with Florida Point on the east. If you look closely at the entrance to the Gulf, you'll see two long rock walls. These are called the west jetty and the east jetty. They help keep the pass open and safe for boats. The area around Perdido Pass has many tall buildings, but there are also nice beach parks nearby, like Gulf State Park.
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What is Perdido Pass?
Perdido Pass is easy to spot from the ocean because of the Alabama State Route 182 highway bridge. This bridge goes over the pass in Orange Beach, Alabama. It has two main openings for boats. The main channel under the bridge is about 54 feet (16 meters) high. Another channel, called Cotton Bayou Channel, is about 41 feet (12 meters) high.
The main path for boats goes from the Gulf through Perdido Pass. It then splits into two smaller channels. One channel goes north into Terry Cove and Johnson Cove. The other goes east into Bayou St. John. The entrance to the pass is protected by jetties. These are like long walls built into the water. There's a jetty on the west side and a special jetty on the east side.
How Deep Are the Channels?
The depth of the water in the channels can change. In October 2006, the main entrance channel was about 5.2 feet (1.6 meters) deep. It was deeper in the middle, reaching about 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). The channel leading to Terry and Johnson Coves was about 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) deep, reaching 8.3 feet (2.5 meters) in the middle. The channel going to Bayou St. John was about 6.9 feet (2.1 meters) deep, reaching 7.4 feet (2.3 meters) in the middle. These channels are clearly marked with signs and buoys to help boats navigate.
Boating and Waterways
Perdido Pass is an important link to the Intracoastal Waterway. This is a long chain of natural inlets, salt water rivers, bays, and canals that runs along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. You can reach the Intracoastal Waterway from Perdido Pass by following a marked channel through Bayou St. John.
There are also places for small boats in the coves and Cotton Bayou, which are on the west side of Perdido Pass.
Old River Connection
Old River flows into Perdido Pass from the east. It runs between Florida Point and Ono Island, Alabama. The border between Florida and Alabama actually runs along the middle of Old River for about 2 miles (3 km) before it reaches Perdido Pass. A bridge crosses Old River about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Perdido Pass.
Florida Point in Alabama
Both Alabama Point and Florida Point are part of the town of Orange Beach, Alabama. Even though it's called Florida Point, the very end of this land is actually in Alabama. This is a bit unusual because state borders often go through the middle of rivers or passes. However, Perdido Pass is completely within Alabama, and the state line is just to its east. Gulf State Park is located on Florida Point.
Over time, big storms like hurricanes can change the shape of the coastline. They can open new passes or fill in old ones. To prevent this, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Orange Beach use stone jetties and dredge the pass. Dredging means they remove sand from the bottom to keep the channel deep enough for boats.
Islands of Perdido Pass
The Islands of Perdido Pass are also known as the Orange Beach Islands. These islands are popular spots for people who enjoy boating. They are also important homes for many different kinds of plants and animals. You can only reach these islands by boat. There are several places in Orange Beach where you can launch a boat, like The Wharf or Bear Point Marina.
The main islands in Perdido Pass are:
- Bird Island
- Robinson Island
- Gilchrist Island
- Walker Island
- Rabbit Island (the easternmost island)
Impact of the 2010 Oil Spill
In 2010, there was a big oil spill called the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. To stop oil from entering Perdido Bay, the entrance to Perdido Pass was closed with a special barrier system in June 2010.
This barrier system was designed to control the flow of water. It allowed boats to leave Perdido Pass when the tide was going out. But when the tide was coming in, the barrier would close. This helped collect oil that was trying to enter the bay. It also helped keep the oil in a special area on the eastern side of the pass.
