Lake Pontchartrain (play /ˈpɒntʃətreɪn/; French: Lac Pontchartrain, French: [lak pɔ̃ʃaʁtʁɛ̃] ( listen)) is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake. It is, however, part of one the largest wetlands in North America, and the world[1].

It covers an area of 630 square miles (1,600 km2) with an average depth of 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m). Some shipping channels are kept deeper through dredging. It is roughly oval in shape, about 40 miles (64 km) from west to east and 24 miles (39 km) from south to north. In descending order of area, the lake is located in parts of St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and Tangipahoa parishes.
it is one lake not 3 lakes.