united_states long shallow western coast texas united_states separated roughly mile long flats land bridge upper lower joined approximately miles long length main extensions include upper red fish bay flats near mexican border ecosystem protected privately owned human history formation settlements established port port shores history formed years ago sea level culminating rise extension considerably older formed river valley pleistocene years ago early peoples obtained bay eliminated changes formation people encounter new likely nomadic indians spanish explorer believed european come contact early 16th century credited giving spanish mother land grants handed spanish government near believed given included acres km2 area south stocked land cattle american settlements developed following mexican war including established area near present day port resort came ashore late 18th century looking freshwater supplies settlement known established location 1830s constructed city named port queen isabella causeway longest bridge texas constructed newer bridge built collapsed september hit barge causing people deaths significantly economy rebuilt reopened november year residents census north established old fishing community red fish landing named united_states congressman introduced bill extended 1940s port ship channel work improve cut allows influx lower improve fishing shipping industry community residents features found mainland location climate dry referred wild horse desert western shore large included usually marked sand dunes pear century plants occasional oak tree bent wind split mile sand flats named flats located miles northern extreme near corpus known upper includes extension near eastern shore northeast opening lower includes area south flats extension near crossed queen isabella causeway included lower red fish bay found shoreline south shallow narrow averaging feet depth miles miles width depth feet feet areas form foot deep foot wide runs bay length joins upper lower stretches types hard reef found bed shoreline including beach rock reefs shell sand bound calcium cement common south occasional shifts coastal shoreline reefs common system formed years ago tubes parts thousand average high holds distinction earth bays ukraine west coast baja california australia grouped texas system reasons include lack significant river source dry climate high isolation bodies water greater port gulf channel allowed larger exchange little water exchange occurs second cubic metres gal water flows tropical storms hurricanes significant fresh water bay receives greatest lower averages ecosystem important ecosystems texas protected united_states shores protected west east fish shrimp crab feed bird populations depend plentiful beds survival accounts found threatened brown tides caused poor circulation influx replace vital beds home texas coast species blue atlantic black drum red drum southern jack southern atlantic striped florida smooth butterfly ray spotted shark sleeper gray common southern southern migrate live including ducks birds area include falcon long billed crane brown sea turtles found bay cattle white tailed deer seen near shore industry ports port rely fishing industries 1960s averaged catch tonnes long tons short tons shrimp annually accounted entire production texas fishing industry greatly expanded opening port channel allowing steady accumulation red fish brown shrimp bay environmental manufacturing plants constructed area following environmental campaign constructed oil gas pipeline decrease shipment oil gas greatly diminishing chance spill activists likewise proposed wind turbine farm potential harm scenic shores bird populations tourism industry communities beach pass reach prime destination fishing drawn tourists held visitors flock western coast water sports
Laguna Madre (United States)