HISTORIC ARTICLE

Aug 30, 1956 CE: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Opens

On August 30, 1956, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the world’s longest bridge over water, opened outside New Orleans, Louisiana.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Engineering, Geography, Physical Geography

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On August 30, 1956, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway opened. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is one of the longest bridges in the world. It is 38 kilometers (24 miles) long. On the south end of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the big city of New Orleans, Louisiana. On the north end is the smaller town of Mandeville, Louisiana. More than 40,000 cars drive over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway every day.

benefit

verb

to be helpful or useful.

bridge

noun

structure connecting areas otherwise difficult to travel.

business

noun

sale of goods and services, or a place where such sales take place.

causeway

noun

elevated road.

city

noun

large settlement with a high population density.

column

noun

strong, vertical support structure, such as a pillar.

commute

verb

to travel to and from specific places on a regular basis, usually for a specific purpose, such as employment.

concrete

noun

hard building material made from mixing cement with rock and water.

continuous

adjective

uninterrupted.

drastic

adjective

severe or extreme.

lake

noun

body of water surrounded by land.

lakebed

noun

bottom of a lake.

piling

noun

structure, usually made of metal or wood, hammered vertically into the ground to serve as a foundation or wall.

resident

noun

person who lives in a specific place.

retail

adjective

having to do with the sale of finished goods to consumers.

shore

noun

coast.

tourist

noun

person who travels for pleasure.

town

noun

human settlement larger than a village and smaller than a city.

urban area

noun

developed, densely populated area where most inhabitants have nonagricultural jobs.

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Writer

National Geographic Society

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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