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| Toponym | |
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Louisiana was named after Louis XIV, King of France from 1643–1715. When René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claimed the territory drained by the Mississippi River for France, he named it La Louisiane, meaning "Land of Louis".[7] Once part of the French Colonial Empire, the Louisiana Territory stretched from present-day Mobile Bay to just north of the present-day Canadian border, and included a small part of what is now southwestern Canada.
[edit] Tags:French,R,Louis Xiv,René-robert Cavelier, Sieur De La Salle,Mississippi River,Canadian,Mississippi, | |
| Topography | |
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Louisiana is bordered to the west by Texas; to the north by Arkansas; to the east by the state of Mississippi; and to the south by the Gulf of Mexico.
The surface of the state may properly be divided into two parts, the uplands of the north, and the alluvial along the coast. The alluvial region includes low swamp lands, coastal marshlands and beaches, and barrier islands that cover about 20,000 square miles (52,000 km2). This area lies principally along the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River, which traverses the state from north to south for a distance of about 600 miles (1,000 km) and empties into the Gulf of Mexico; the Red River; the Ouachita River and its branches; and other minor streams (some of which are called bayous). The breadth of the alluvial region along the Mississippi is from 10 to 60 miles (15 to 100 km), and along the other rivers the alluvial region averages about 10 miles (15 km) across. The Mississippi River flows along a ridge formed by its own deposits (known as a levee), from which the lands decline toward a river beyond at an average fall of six feet per mile (3 m/km). The alluvial lands along other streams present similar features.
The higher and contiguous hill lands of the north and northwestern part of the state have an area of more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 km2). They consist of prairie and woodlands. The elevations above sea level range from 10 feet (3 m) at the coast and swamp lands to 50 and 60 feet (15–18 m) at the prairie and alluvial lands. In the uplands and hills, the elevations rise to Driskill Mountain, the highest point in the state at only 535 feet (163 m) above sea level.
Besides the navigable waterways already named, there are the Sabine (Sah-BEAN), forming the western boundary; and the Pearl, the eastern boundary; the Calcasieu (KAL-cah-shew), the Mermentau, the Vermilion, Bayou Teche, the Atchafalaya (a-CHAF-a-LI-a), the Boeuf (bow), Bayou Lafourche, the Courtableau, Bayou D'Arbonne, the Macon, the Tensas (TEN-saw), Amite River, the Tchefuncte (CHA-Funk-ta), the Tickfaw, the Natalbany, and a number of other smaller streams, constituting a natural system of navigable waterways, aggregating over 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long.
The state also has political jurisdiction over the approximately 3-mile (4.8 km)-wide portion of subsea land of the inner continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. Through a peculiarity of the political geography of the United States, this is substantially less than the 9-mile (14 km)-wide jurisdiction of nearby states Texas and Florida, which, like Louisiana, have extensive Gulf coastlines.[8]
The southern coast of Louisiana in the United States is among the fastest disappearing areas in the world. Rising waters and erosion (both natural and man-made) have led to the state losing a land mass equivalent to 30 football fields every day. And as the communities disappear, more and more people are leaving the region.[9]
[edit] Tags:Driskill Mountain,/,State,Texas,Arkansas,Gulf Of Mexico,Alluvial,Barrier Islands,Red River,Ouachita River,Calcasieu,Mermentau,Bayou Teche,Atchafalaya,Boeuf,Bayou Lafourche,Courtableau,Bayou D'arbonne,Macon,Tensas,Amite River,Tchefuncte, | |
| Climate | |
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Baton Rouge
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
5.9
62
42
5
65
44
5
72
51
5.3
78
57
5.2
84
64
5.8
89
70
5.4
91
73
5.7
91
72
4.5
88
68
3.6
81
57
4.8
71
48
5.2
64
43
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: [7]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
151
17
6
127
18
7
126
22
11
134
26
14
133
29
18
148
32
21
137
33
23
145
33
22
115
31
20
92
27
14
122
22
9
131
18
6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Lake Charles
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
5.5
62
43
3.3
65
47
3.5
70
51
3.6
78
59
6.1
85
66
6.1
90
72
5.1
92
74
4.9
92
74
6
88
70
3.9
81
61
4.6
69
52
4.6
64
46
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: as above
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
140
17
6
83
18
8
90
21
11
92
26
15
154
29
19
154
32
22
130
33
23
123
33
23
151
31
21
100
27
16
117
21
11
117
18
8
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
New Orleans
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
5.9
64
44
5.5
66
47
5.2
73
53
5
79
59
4.6
85
66
6.8
90
72
6.2
91
74
6.2
91
74
5.6
88
70
3.1
80
61
5.1
72
52
5.1
65
46
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: as above
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
149
18
7
139
19
8
133
23
12
128
26
15
117
29
19
173
32
22
157
33
23
156
33
23
141
31
21
77
27
16
129
22
11
129
18
8
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Shreveport
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
4.9
56
36
4.3
61
39
4.5
69
46
4.6
77
54
4.9
84
62
4.9
90
69
3.8
93
73
2.9
93
71
3.1
87
66
4.4
78
55
4.6
67
44
4.7
59
38
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: as above
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
125
13
2
109
16
4
114
21
8
116
25
12
123
29
17
123
32
21
96
34
23
74
34
22
78
31
19
112
26
13
116
19
7
120
15
3
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen climate classification Cfa), perhaps the most "classic" example of a humid subtropical climate of all the Southcentral states, with long, hot, humid summers and short, mild winters. The subtropical characteristics of the state are due in large part to the influence of the Gulf of Mexico, which even at its farthest point is no more than 200 miles (320 km) away. Precipitation is frequent throughout the year, although the summer is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. There is a dip in precipitation in October. Southern Louisiana receives far more copious rainfall, especially during the winter months. Summers in Louisiana are hot and humid, with high temperatures from mid-June to mid-September averaging 90 °F (32 °C) or more and overnight lows averaging above 70 °F (22 °C). In the summer, the extreme maximum temperature is much warmer in the north than in the south, with temperatures near the Gulf of Mexico occasionally reaching 100 °F (38 °C), although temperatures above 95 °F (35 °C) are commonplace. In northern Louisiana, the temperatures reach above 105 °F (41 °C) in the summer.
Temperatures are generally mildly warm in the winter in the southern part of the state, with highs around New Orleans, Baton Rouge, the rest of south Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico averaging 66 °F (19 °C), while the northern part of the state is mildly cool in the winter with highs averaging 59 °F (15 °C). The overnight lows in the winter average well above freezing throughout the state, with 46 °F (8 °C) the average near the Gulf and an average low of 37 °F (3 °C) in the winter in the northern part of the state. Louisiana does have its share of cold fronts, which frequently drop the temperatures below 20 °F (−8 °C) in the northern part of the state, but almost never do so in the southern part of the state. Snow is not very common near the Gulf of Mexico, although those in the northern parts of the state can expect one to three snowfalls per year, with the frequency increasing northwards. Louisiana's highest recorded temperature is 114 °F (46 °C) in Plain Dealing on August 10, 1936 while the coldest recorded temperature is −16 °F (−27 °C) at Minden on February 13, 1899.
Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to strikes by major hurricanes, particularly the lowlands around and in the New Orleans area. The unique geography of the region with the many bayous, marshes and inlets can make major hurricanes especially destructive. The area is also prone to frequent thunderstorms, especially in the summer. The entire state averages over 60 days of thunderstorms a year, more than any other state except Florida. Louisiana averages 27 tornadoes annually, some in part in 2010. The entire state is vulnerable to a tornado strike, with the extreme southern portion of the state slightly less so than the rest of the state. Tornadoes are much more common from January to March in the southern part of the state, and from February through March in the northern part of the state.[10]
[edit] Tags:New Orleans,Central, | |
| Hurricanes | |
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September 1, 2008, Gustav made landfall along the Louisiana coast near Cocodrie in southeastern Louisiana. As late as August 31 it had been projected by the National Hurricane Center that the hurricane would remain at Category 3 or above on September 1, but in the event the center of Gustav made landfall as a strong Category 2 hurricane (1 mph below Category 3), and dropped to Category 1 soon after.[11] As a result of NHC's forecasts there had been a massive evacuation of New Orleans amid warnings (for example from the city's mayor, Ray Nagin) that this would be the “storm of the century”,[12] potentially more devastating than Katrina almost exactly three years earlier, but these fears were not realised. Nevertheless, a significant number of deaths were caused by or attributed to Gustav,[13] and around 1.5 million people were without power in Louisiana on September 1.[14]
September 24, 2005, Rita (Category 3 at landfall) struck southwestern Louisiana, flooding many parishes and cities along the coast, including Cameron Parish, Lake Charles, and other towns. The storm's winds further weakened the damaged levees in New Orleans and caused renewed flooding in parts of the city.
August 29, 2005, Katrina (Category 3 at landfall)[15] struck and devastated southeastern Louisiana, where it breached and undermined levees in New Orleans, causing 80% of the city to flood. Most people had been evacuated but the majority of the population became homeless. The city was virtually closed until October. It is estimated that more than two million people in the Gulf region were displaced by the hurricane, and that more than 1,500 fatalities resulted in Louisiana alone. A public outcry criticized governments at the local, state, and federal levels, citing that preparation and response was neither fast nor adequate. The effects of the hurricane scattered Louisiana residents across the country.
Further information: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana and Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
Oct. 3, 2002, Lili (Category 1 at landfall)
August 1992, Andrew (Category 3 at landfall) struck south-central Louisiana. It killed four people; knocked out power to nearly 150,000 citizens; and destroyed hundreds of millions of dollars of crops in the state.
August 1969, Camille (Category 5) caused a 23.4 ft (7.1 m). storm surge and killed 250 people. Although Camille officially made landfall in Mississippi and the worst impacts were felt there, it also had effects in Louisiana. New Orleans was spared the brunt of the storm and remained dry, with the exception of mild rain-generated flooding in the most low-lying areas.
September 9, 1965, Betsy (Category 3 at landfall) came ashore in Louisiana, causing massive destruction as the first hurricane in history to cause one billion dollars in damage (over ten billion in inflation-adjusted USD). The storm hit New Orleans particularly hard by flooding approximately 35% of the city (including the Lower 9th Ward, Gentilly, and parts of Mid-City), and pushing the death toll in the state to 76.
June 1957, Audrey (Category 4) devastated southwest Louisiana, destroying or severely damaging 60–80 percent of the homes and businesses from Cameron to Grand Chenier. 40,000 people were left homeless and more than 300 people in the state were killed.
August 10, 1856, Hurricane One (Category 4) made landfall at Last Island, Louisiana. The 25-mile (40 km) long barrier island resort community was devastated by being split into 5 separate islands, and over 200 people were killed.
[edit] Tags: | |
| Geology | |
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2010)
The underlying strata of the state are of Cretaceous age and are covered by alluvial deposits of Tertiary and post-Tertiary origin. A Tags: | |
zote monety |