Atchafalaya Basin
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The Atchafalaya Basin, or Atchafalaya Swamp, is the largest wetland and swamp in the United States. Located in south central Louisiana, it is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico converge. The river stretches from near Simmesport in the north through parts of eight parishes to the Morgan City southern area.
A swamp in the Atchafalaya Basin
Aerial view of the Big Island Mining Project restoration site on Atchafalaya Bay
View of the south side of the I-10 bridge crossing the basin
Image: Atchafalaya Basin. Prepared by order of Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks. Henry L. Abbot, Capt. & Chief Top. Eng'rs., Feb.... NARA 305632
Atchafalaya River
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The Atchafalaya River is a 137-mile-long (220 km) distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River, and is the fifth largest river in North America, by discharge. The name Atchafalaya comes from Choctaw for 'long river', from hachcha, 'river', and falaya, 'long'.
Atchafalaya River delta on the Gulf of Mexico; view upriver to the northwest.
Formation of the Atchafalaya River and construction of the Old River Control Structure.
Two egrets on the limbs of a cypress in the Atchafalaya flood basin.