Barataria Bay

Barataria Bay bărətârˈēə [key], SE La., separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Grand and Grand Terre islands. It is linked to the Intracoastal Waterway by a navigable channel. The bay is the center of the Louisiana shrimp industry and is trapped for muskrat furs. Oil and natural gas are found in the area, and the bay region is a major source of sulfur. In the early 19th cent. the bay was the headquarters of Jean Laffite and his pirates.

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