The River level is extremely high for the past few weeks because of all the rain and melting snow that has been funneled into it from its tributaries in the northern part of the U. S. Louisiana is the last state it flows through before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. These ocean going vessels seem dwarfed by the River.
This was shot adjacent to the Bonnet Carre' Spillway. I have a gallery of the Spillway with a brief history at http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/bonnet_carre_spillway.
The River is due to crest on February 4 some 10 miles upriver from the Spillway at 22.2 feet. Flood stage is 22 feet, so you can imagine how very high it is.