Lake Pontchartrain was named for the Count de
Pontchartrain who served as minister of finance during
the reign of France's "Sun King," Louis XIV for whom
Louisiana is named.
Lake Pontchartrain and the Causeway comprise one of
America's most famous scenic attractions. The lake is
home to a wide variety of fish and shellfish, ducks and
other kinds of waterfowl. Pelicans are making a
comeback in the lake as well. Ancient trees festooned
with Spanish moss mark the lake's edges. The Lake
Pontchartrain Basin Foundation has made extraordinary
progress in recent years in making the lake clean and
beautiful.
The twin spans of the Causeway are made of
prestressed panels supported by over 9,000 concrete
pilings. The first span opened to the public in 1956, the
second in 1969. The result was oneway driving safety on
straight, twolane railed surfaces 80feet apart connected
by seven crossovers that function as pullover areas for
auto emergencies.
