Mississippi River – Gulf Outlet Canal, Navigation canal in Louisiana, United States.
The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal is a navigation channel running about 76 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans' inner harbor. The waterway cuts through marshland and widens significantly in sections where water movement shaped the banks over time.
The United States Congress approved construction in 1956, and the Army Corps of Engineers completed the channel in 1968. The project was designed to provide faster access to the harbor for ocean-going vessels and boost commerce for the region.
The canal reflects how maritime trade shaped Louisiana's development and the Port of New Orleans' need for faster shipping routes. It remains visible evidence of the region's commitment to efficient commerce and transportation.
A surge barrier built in 2009 now blocks maritime traffic through the canal, making direct shipping access impossible. The surrounding marshlands remain accessible by boat or from nearby viewpoints on land.
By 2005, the canal had widened to four times its original width due to natural erosion of surrounding marshlands. This dramatic expansion reveals the powerful force of water and tidal movement reshaping the landscape over decades.
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