Louisiana: Chapter 2

The Physical Environment

Louisiana is one of the lowest and flattest areas in the United States with an average elevation of 100 ft above sea level. Many Bayous are in the south and Lake Pontchartrain is the state’s largest natural salty lake. About half of the state is forested with cypress, oak, water tupelo, willow, cottonwood, and pines. The swamps in the south support the bald cypress and plants like ferns, vines and water hyacinth. Saltwater, freshwater and brackish marshes are found along the Gulf coast.

Louisiana can be divided into three geographic areas of land.

The East Gulf Coastal Plain lies to the east of the Mississippi River north of Lake Pontchartrain. The land is low, consists of marshland near the river and rises slightly in the north to rolling hills.

The Mississippi Alluvial Plain stretches along the Mississippi River from Arkansas in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. Along the river, there are fields atop the ridge called ‘frontlands’ and the land that slopes away from here, comprises of clay and silt and referred to as the ‘backlands.’ The Mississippi Delta, at the mouth of the Mississippi River covers about 13,000 square miles (about 1/4 of Louisiana) and consists of silt deposited by the river. It is the most fertile area of Louisiana.

The West Gulf Coastal Plain lies west of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Towards Arkansas, the land gradually rises and about 40 miles from the Arkansas state line is the highest point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain (535 ft). Gently rolling landscape are north of the marshlands (Louisiana Prairies) and along the gulf, behind the barrier beaches are marshes that extend 20 miles north into Louisiana.

Climate

Louisiana has a subtropical climate.

Summers are hot and humid and winters are mild to cool.

July temperatures average from 81° to 83° F.

January temperatures average from 53º F in the south to 47º Fin the north.

Highest temperature: 114 degrees 8/10/1936

Lowest temperature: -16 degrees 2/13/1899