Lake Pontchartrain Facts

From Save Our Lake's website , some little known facts about Lake Pontchartrain.

Lake Pontchartrain is swimmable again. It was removed from the EPA's impaired waterbodies' list in 2006.

Lake Pontchartrain is not a lake, surrounded by land. It is an estuary, open to the Gulf of Mexico.

Lake Pontchartrain contains brackish water, a mix of saltwater from the Gulf and fresh water from rain and rivers. You can find both saltwater and freshwater fish in it.

Lake Pontchartrain has tides that come in and out from the Gulf of Mexico.

Lake Pontchartrain is fed directly by two rivers: Tangipahoa River and Tchefuncte River.

Lake Pontchartrain is 630 square miles in area and is approximately 25 miles across north to south.

Lake Pontchartrain is shallow, averaging only 12-15 feet deep.

Lake Pontchartrain has three beautiful beaches open to the public: Pontchartrain Beach on the South Shore, and Fontainebleau State Park beach on the North Shore.

Lake Pontchartrain has great fishing opportunities with 11 artificial reefs attracting fish.

Lake Pontchartrain has shrimp, crabs, clams, sharks, dolphins and manatees visiting in its waters. Keep an eye out and you may see some.