Galveston Bay
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Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along Texas's coastline. The bay is formed from the confluence of the Trinity River and the San Jacinto River, combined with the incoming tides from the Gulf of Mexico. The bay covers approximately 600 square miles (1,500 km²), and is 30 miles (50 km) long and 17 miles (27 km) wide. Galveston Bay is only 7-9 feet (3 m) deep. The bay drains through a channel between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
The Houston Ship Channel, connecting Houston to the Gulf, passes through Galveston Bay. Galveston is the largest community on the bay, while smaller ones include Baytown, Texas City, and Anahuac. Three counties border the bay; Chambers County, Harris County, and Galveston County.
The bay provides nursery and spawning grounds for large amounts of marine life, and is important for both commercial and recreational fishing.
External links
- Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "GALVESTON BAY" (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/rrg1.html)