'What is a Cheniere (pronounced locally "Shinny")? How is it different from a lake/bayou?

Question

I do believe Chinieres are found only in Louisiana but I am not sure of that. They could also be located in Texas and Mississippi. I may have spelled the word incorrectly. However I have seen several variations of it's spelling.

Answer 1

Cheniere Caminada was a popular vacation resort located on the Louisiana coast of the Gulf of Mexico. In the late nineteenth century it was very common for upper class wives and children to travel to the hotels there and for husbands to visit on weekends.
Technically a peninsula, Cheniere Caminada was connected to the mainland only by marsh and was named for the "chenieres" that shot up from the ground. Pitre defines a cheniere as a ridge that is high enough to support the growth of oak trees (10).
On the evening of October 1, 1893 Cheniere Caminada was decimated by a category two hurricane with winds estimated to have been 100 miles per hour, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site (NOAA). In contrast to two more recent hurricanes which, were of category five, named Andrew and Mitch, with winds of 135 and 155 miles per hour respectively, the hurricane that struck Cheniere Caminada was somewhat less intense. Nonetheless, [being directly exposed with no barrier whatsoever for protection,] the effects of the strong hurricane were devastating for the village.
One such newspaper article published by The Thibodaux Sentinel quoted by the Terrebonne Genealogical Society read:

The population of Cheniere Caminada island is 1471. Of these 696 only are now living; 779 are dead. Historic Cheniere Caminada is no more. The first effects of the storm were felt between 4 and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Everyone apprehended that something terrible was about to happen. … There was one avenue of safety, and that was to seek the upper stories of the houses, but even that chance for escape was lost when the wind and waves combined shook the frail habitations, which rocked to and fro and creaked and groaned under the repeated attacks of the furious elements. Soon the houses were being demolished, wrecked and carried away. The wind shifted to the southeast, and for hours shrieked with redoubled fury. Above the thundering voice of the hurricane could be heard the despairing cries, the groans and the frantic appeals for help of the unfortunate victims. (65)

Answer 2

Cheniere Caminada

Answer 3

The only Cheniere I'm coming across is Cheniere Energy and it is runs pipelines.