Matagorda Bay

Matagorda Bay
Location of Matagorda Bay
Location	central Texas Gulf Coast
Coordinates	28°33′56″N 96°12′36″W / 28.56556°N 96.21°W / 28.56556; -96.21Coordinates: 28°33′56″N 96°12′36″W / 28.56556°N 96.21°W / 28.56556; -96.21
River sources	Colorado River (Texas), Lavaca River
Ocean/sea sources	Gulf of Mexico
Countries	United States
Settlements	Port Lavaca, Texas

Matagorda Bay is a large estuary bay on the Texas coast, located between Calhoun and Matagorda counties. The Colorado River empties into the bay on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The bay is separated from the gulf by Matagorda Peninsula. The city of Port O'Connor is located on its shores. Matagorda Bay is approximately 352 square miles (910 km²) in area.^[1]

Matagorda Bay has several named extensions. Lavaca Bay extends westward to the mouth of the Lavaca River, and is home to the city of Port Lavaca. Tres Palacios Bay extends northeast to the mouth of the Tres Palacios River, and connects to the city of Palacios. Other inlets include Turtle Bay, Carancahua Bay, Keller Bay, and Cox Bay.

At the north end of the bay an isthmus formed by Egret Island and the extended banks of the Colorado River connect the mainland to Matagorda Peninsula and separate Matagorda Bay from East Matagorda Bay, which lies completely in Matagorda County, extending from the Colorado River on the west to the Sargent area on the east.

Matagorda Bay (Tres Palacios Bay), as viewed from a porch in Palacios.

See also

• 69th Indiana Infantry drownings

References

External links

• Matagorda Bay from the Handbook of Texas Online

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