The major function of the waterway is the transportation of goods. This commercial trade link with inland consumers through the Mississippi River system, and with world commerce through the Gulf of Mexico, is of major economic significance to Texas and the United States.

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Boston, Massachusetts, southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway located along the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is a navigable inland waterway running approximately 1,050 mi (1,690 km) from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.

Sanibel Island to Anclote Key. The Florida (West Coast) portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW) has its beginning near Punta Rassa, FL and the Sanibel Island Causeway.

In fact, attacks by sharks in the brackish Intracoastal and not the salty ocean are extremely rare, said John Carlson, a shark expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “I can’t remember the last time there was a shark attack in an Intracoastal Waterway,” he said.

The definition of intercoastal is something that goes from one coast or seaport to another. A highway connecting the Atlantic coastline and the inland waters of the Atlantic Ocean is an example of an intercoastal highway. The correct name is actually IntRAcoastal Waterway.

It would be proper to call a waterway, like the Okeechobee Canal that crosses the state of Florida—and provides travel within the state—an intracoastal waterway. But the name of the ICW is the Intracoastal Waterway for one simple reason: BECAUSE THAT IS ITS OFFICIAL NAME.

Although there may be local ordinances banning swimming at dangerous spots along the coast, it’s not inherently illegal to swim in the Intracoastal or inlet waterways, said Katie Purcell, a spokeswoman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Intracoastal Waterway, navigable toll-free shipping route, extending for about 3,000 miles (4,800 km) along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts in the southern and eastern United States.

Tannin. In North Carolina, the water changes to a dark rich brown color. Tannin is naturally released from the roots and decaying leaves of cypress and juniper trees that line the North Carolina cuts.

If you own a sailboat and you’ve always wanted to ply the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), you’re in for a new experience. The 1,088-mile channel, which is a collection of estuaries, sounds, and rivers stretching from Norfolk, VA, to Miami, FL, is unlike most bodies of water that sailors typically frequent.

How Long Does It Take to Do the Great Loop? The Great Loop has been done in as little as two months and in as much as 12 years. Traditionally, Loopers have spent about a year on the route. After all, it is a seasonal trip.

three to four weeks

It’s foolish, in our opinion, to travel the ICW at night. At times we find it a bit nerve wracking during the day. For Beach House and crew, the ICW is the destination. The number of side trips off the ICW can provide months of ideal cruising.

What anchor will work best? The anchor you use on the Chesapeake is the best one for the ICW, too, but be sure to have a second anchor of a different style. In the ICW you will often anchor with swifter currents and less protection than we are used to here on the Bay. You will use greater scope ratio.

The waterway is narrow and shallow, meaning that aside from designated anchorages (which are also shallow) your only option to stop for the night is to anchor on the side, just outside of the channel.

between 10 and 12 feet