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The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long (161 meters by 14 meters by 80 kilometers).<ref name=HGnav/> The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by [[dredging]], and the [[salt marsh]]es and bird islands are part of the [[Houston Port Authority]]'s beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.<ref name=HGnav/> |
The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long (161 meters by 14 meters by 80 kilometers).<ref name=HGnav/> The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by [[dredging]], and the [[salt marsh]]es and bird islands are part of the [[Houston Port Authority]]'s beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.<ref name=HGnav/> |
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On December 25, 2007, The Houston Ship Channel was featured on Anderson Cooper's CNN Special,"Planet in Peril," as a controversial and potential polluter of nearby neighborhoods. This year, the University of Texas released a study |
On December 25, 2007, The Houston Ship Channel was featured on Anderson Cooper's CNN Special,"Planet in Peril," as a controversial and potential polluter of nearby neighborhoods. This year, the University of Texas released a study suggesting that children living within {{convert|2|mi|km}} of the Houston Ship Channel are 56% more likely to become sick with Leukemia than the national average. {{fact|date=March 2008}} |
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The Ship Channel has five vehicular crossings. They are the [[Washburn Tunnel]], the [[Sidney Sherman Bridge]], the [[Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge]] and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the [[Fred Hartman Bridge]] in Baytown, Texas; and the [[Lynchburg Ferry]]. |
The Ship Channel has five vehicular crossings. They are the [[Washburn Tunnel]], the [[Sidney Sherman Bridge]], the [[Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge]] and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the [[Fred Hartman Bridge]] in Baytown, Texas; and the [[Lynchburg Ferry]]. |
Revision as of 22:19, 9 August 2009
The Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest sea ports.[1] The channel is a conduit for ocean going vessels between the the city of Houston and the Gulf of Mexico. The channel is a widened and deepened natural watercourse. Major products such as petrochemical and Midwestern grain and transported in bulk together with general cargo. The original watercourse for the channel, Buffalo Bayou, has its headwaters 30 miles (48 km) to the west of the city of Houston. It has been used to move goods to the sea since at least 1836. The proximity to Texas oilfields led to the establishment of numerous petrochemical refineries along the waterway, such as the ExxonMobil Baytown installation on the eastern bank of the San Jacinto River.
While much of the Ship Channel is associated with heavy industry, two icons of Texas history are also located along its length. The USS Texas (BB-35) saw service during both World Wars, and is the oldest remaining example of a dreadnought-era battleship in existence. The nearby San Jacinto Monument commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto (1836) in which Texas won its independence from Mexico.
The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently 530 feet (160 m) wide by 45 feet (14 m) deep by 50 miles (80 km) long (161 meters by 14 meters by 80 kilometers).[1] The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by dredging, and the salt marshes and bird islands are part of the Houston Port Authority's beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.[1]
On December 25, 2007, The Houston Ship Channel was featured on Anderson Cooper's CNN Special,"Planet in Peril," as a controversial and potential polluter of nearby neighborhoods. This year, the University of Texas released a study suggesting that children living within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the Houston Ship Channel are 56% more likely to become sick with Leukemia than the national average. [citation needed]
The Ship Channel has five vehicular crossings. They are the Washburn Tunnel, the Sidney Sherman Bridge, the Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the Fred Hartman Bridge in Baytown, Texas; and the Lynchburg Ferry.
The channel was designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1987.
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Aerial view of the Houston Ship Channel on Buffalo Bayou. This point is located in the city of Galena Park, a suburb of Houston. Downtown Houston is visible at right, about 10 miles (16 km) distant. View is to the west.
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Aerial view of the Barbours Cut container terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. Photo taken before the Fred Hartman Bridge crossed the channel. View is to the northwest.
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A view of USS Texas and the San Jacinto Monument taken from the channel.
Notes
References
- "Houston Ship Channel, Texas". NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved 2006-05-01.