Houston Ship Channel
Houston Ship Channel, waterway that connects Houston, Texas, with the Gulf of Mexico, passing through the former Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. The channel, which was opened in 1914 and later improved, is 50.5 mi (81.3 km) long, 36 ft (11 m) deep, and has a minimum width of 300 ft (90 m). It requires no locks.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Houston Ship Channel
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
27 November 2019
Access Date:
November 14, 2026