About The Intracoastal Waterway
America's Intracoastal Waterway is an inland way to travel from the northeastern states down the eastern seaboard to the Gulf of Mexico. Officially it goes from the Managua River in New Jersey to Brownsville, Texas, but there are so many connecting rivers and bays that it seems to be part of every state from Massachusetts on south. An Act of Congress established the passage in 1919, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers connected natural bodies of water by canals to make the whole length navigable by shallow-draft vessels. The Intracoastal Waterway connects to many bays and sounds that lead to the ocean and to many that go into surrounding regions.
The Intracoastal Waterway runs 1095 miles from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL. The passage from the Virginia state line to the Florida state line is about 715 miles. The trip along the entire coastline of Florida is 380 miles. Boaters taking the trip will go through many boating conditions, a vast array of history, hundreds of marinas, incredible waterfront homes, and wonderful scenery. Created by an act of Congress in 1919, the inland chain of sounds, bays, rivers, lagoons, harbors, and canals is maintained by the US Corps of Engineers. Commercial fuel taxes provide the funds, which are adequate to keep the passage open. However, the mandated depth of twelve feet is not found everywhere, as some sections are as shallow as seven feet. Private boats can travel with out special taxes, and there are no tolls.
Information on-line varies, with the length of the water highway being cited as three thousand miles and other sources giving it at a little over a thousand. The latter assumes that the northern end is at Hampton Roads, the Norfolk, Virginia harbor that opens into the Chesapeake Bay. Commercial barges carry many kinds of cargo up and down, while many private boats head north in the summer and return to Florida and other southern states in the winter. Not all Americans know that it is possible to circumnavigate the eastern portion of the United States. A lot of commercial traffic carries manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and petroleum products over the water to many states. The passage connects to eight major rivers and many of the nation's principal harbors.
For a unique vacation, travel the Intracoastal Waterway. For a great school project, learn about its history and trace its route. For fun, check it out online.
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This article about the Intercoastal Waterway vacation rentals is authored by John Kavaliauskas and published by http://www.luxuryvillafinder.com |
