The Port of South Louisiana (french: Port de la Louisiane du Sud) extends 54 miles (87 km) along the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

between

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...

and

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the List of capitals in the United States, capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, it is the county seat, parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, E ...

, centering approximately at LaPlace, Louisiana, which serves as the Port's headquarters location. This port is critical for grain shipments from the

Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

, handling some 60% of all raw grain exports.

Geography

The ports of New Orleans, South Louisiana, and Baton Rouge cover 172 miles (277 km) on both banks of the Mississippi River. The

Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Missis ...

(now closed by a rock dike built across the channel at Bayou La Loutre) extends 67 miles (108 km) from New Orleans to the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

, and the channel up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge runs at a 48-foot (14.6 m) draft. Overall, the navigational depths range from 12 feet to 48 feet (3.6 - 14.6 m) along the river, channels, and side canals. After

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

, the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditi ...

Office of Coast Survey The Office of Coast Survey is the official chartmaker of the United States. It is an element of the National Ocean Service in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is part of the United States Department of Commerce. Mission ...

used boats with sonar and scanners to assess underwater damage to the ports. Port authorities used these surveys to make decisions about when to open or close the ports.

Exports and imports

These three ports are significant to the economy of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. The ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge rank third, fourth, and fifteenth, respectively in total trade by port to all world ports. In terms of dollar value, total trade by port to all world ports, New Orleans, South Louisiana, and Baton Rouge, rank 12th, 16th, and 27th, respectively. About 6,000 vessels pass through the Port of New Orleans annually. According to the North American Export Grain Association, as of August 2005, these three ports serve as a gateway for nearly 55 to 70 percent of all U.S. exported corn, soy, and wheat. Barges carry these grains from the Mississippi River to the ports for storage and export. Imports to these ports include steel, rubber, coffee, fruits, and vegetables.

References

External links

Port of South Louisiana Web Site2007 Annual Report (Under Port of South Louisiana websitePorts Association Of Louisiana
*https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-busiest-cargo-ports-in-north-america.html

South Louisiana The Port of South Louisiana (french: Port de la Louisiane du Sud) extends 54 miles (87 km) along the Mississippi River between New Orleans, Louisiana and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, centering approximately at LaPlace, Louisiana, which serves as ...

Buildings and structures in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana Transportation in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana {{port-stub

Geography

Exports and imports

See also

References

External links