Matagorda Bay

Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay at Jensen Point
Location	Central Texas Gulf Coast
Coordinates	28°33′56″N 96°12′36″W / 28.56556°N 96.21000°W / 28.56556; -96.21000
River sources	Colorado River (Texas), Lavaca River
Ocean/sea sources	Gulf of Mexico
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	244,490 acres (98,940 ha)[1]
Settlements	Port Lavaca, Texas

Matagorda Bay (/ˌmætəˈɡɔːrdə/ ^ⓘ[2]) is a large Gulf of Mexico bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Corpus Christi, 143 miles (230 km) east-southeast of San Antonio, 108 miles (174 km) south-southwest of Houston, and 167 miles (269 km) south-southeast of Austin. It is one of seven major estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Texas and serves as the mouth of numerous streams, most notably the Lavaca and Colorado Rivers. The Texas seaport of Port Lavaca is located on the system's northwestern extension of Lavaca Bay. The city of Palacios is found on northeastern extension of Tres Palacios Bay, and Port O'Connor is located on the southwestern tip of the main bay's shore. The ghost town of Indianola, which was a major port before it was destroyed by two hurricanes in the late 19th century, is also found on the bay.

The bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula. Its shore, especially near the Colorado River delta, provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The wildlife serves as a basis for the birding and fishing tourism, and is an essential component of the production of seafood, specifically shrimp and blue crab, which are the specialties of the area. The fertile land near the bay is ideal for farming, especially for the propagation of rice.