Christmas Bay (Texas)

Approximately 18 thousand years ago, the coast of the Gulf of Mexico took on its current shape during the last glacial period.[4] Low global sea levels permitted the landmass of what is now Texas to stretch much farther south than it does now, and the Trinity River excavated a 170-foot-deep (52 m) canyon on its way to the ocean through what is now the Houston Ship Channel's outlet.[4] Rising sea levels filled this tiny canyon first when the glacial era ended, followed by the vast lowlands of today's Trinity Bay.[4] Between 7 and 5 thousand years ago, rapid sea-level rise moved the Gulf Coast northward to its current latitude.[4]

This small bay is on the eastern coast of Texas near the city of Galveston. It is surrounded by the natural region of the Western Gulf coastal grasslands and marshes.[5] The plains are crossed by meandering streams that run southeast into the western Galveston Bay estuary and feature vast fresh and salty marshes.[5] The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has classified the bay as a nursery habitat area and a Coastal Preserve because it supports a greater diversity of fin-fish than any other part of the Galveston Bay estuary system.[2] The shallow-water perimeters of the preserve are home to the Texas quahog, an edible type of hard clam.[2] Waterfowl and shorebirds, both migratory and permanent, can be found in the region.[2] Waterbirds graze and nest on cordgrass stands, and huge oyster reefs may be found in the area.[2] Two endangered bird species call it home, the piping plover and brown pelican.[6] Red drum, speckled trout, black drum, and southern flounder are all common fish on the bayside.[7] This unusual and complicated mixing of waters from many sources serves as a nursery and breeding ground for a diverse range of marine life, including crabs, shrimp, oysters, and a variety of fish, resulting in a thriving commercial fishing industry.[7] The bay's channels provide ideal habitat for common bottlenose dolphins, which eat a variety of fish.[8] In addition, the bayous, rivers, and marshes that surround the bay maintain their own ecosystems, supporting a varied range of fauna and allowing freshwater crawfish farming.[9] The marshes that surround the bay are home to a diverse range of wildlife. The American alligator and the bobcat are notable terrestrial species, while the roseate spoonbill, great and snowy egrets, white-faced ibis, and mottled duck are notable avian species.[6]

The bay's climate is classed as humid subtropical.[10] Prevailing south and southeast breezes bring heat from Mexico's deserts and precipitation from the Gulf of Mexico.[10] Summer temperatures routinely surpass 90 °F (32 °C), and the humidity in the area raises the heat index even further.[10] Winters in the region are warm, with average winter highs of 60 °F (16 °C) and lows of 40 °F (4 °C).[11] Annual rainfall is considerably over 40 inches (100 cm) on average, with the area reaching well over 50 inches (130 cm) sometimes.[11] During the fall season, hurricanes are a constant concern.[11]

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Christmas Bay
• Christmas Bay Foundation