Head of Passes

The Head of Passes is considered to be the location of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

The US Army Corps of Engineers maintains a 45-foot (13.7 m) shipping channel from the mouth of Southwest Pass—20 miles (32 km) downriver from the Head—up to Baton Rouge, the US's farthest inland deep-water port.

[3] During the American Civil War, Head of Passes was the site of several naval battles.

This occupation resulted in the Battle of the Head of Passes, where the blockading forces were temporarily driven from the area.

The Head of Passes is the datum from which mileages on the Lower Mississippi River are measured.