Lake Pontchartrain

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/lake-pontchartrain

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Lake Pontchartrain?630 square miles (1,600 km2)
2. What is the location?Southeastern Louisiana, United States
3. What is the water type?Estuary (mix of fresh and saltwater)
4. Why is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway so special?The Causeway is the longest bridge that stretches over water in the world, going more than 24 miles across the lake. It is built on thousands of concrete pillars that keep the road steady.
5. How deep is Lake Pontchartrain?The lake is pretty shallow, with an average depth of 12 to 14 feet. Dredging keeps some parts deeper so ships can travel through.

Estuary: A transitional zone where freshwater rivers meet saltwater oceans, characterized by brackish water and rich biodiversity.
Causeway: A raised road or structure constructed across a body of water or low-lying land.
Dredging: The excavation of material from the bottom of a body of water to deepen channels or remove sediment.
Parish: The administrative division equivalent to a county in the state of Louisiana.