bayou
bayou, Still or slow-moving section of marshy water, usually a creek, secondary watercourse, or minor river that is a tributary of another river or channel. It may occur in the form of an oxbow lake. Bayous are typical of Louisiana’s Mississippi River delta.
This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
Citation Information
Article Title:
bayou
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
25 January 2025
Access Date:
November 14, 2026