| The
state of Louisiana is bordered to the west by the state of Texas; to the north by
Arkansas. Also to the east by the state of Mississippi; and to the south by the
Gulf of Mexico. The surface of the state is known to be properly divided into two
parts; the uplands, and the alluvial and coast and swamp regions. The
alluvial regions, including the low swamps and coast lands, cover an area
of about 20,000 square miles (52,000 kmē); they lie principally along the
vast Mississippi River, which traverses the state from north to south for a
distance of about 600 miles (1,000 km. This river ultimately empties into the
Gulf of Mexico, the Red River, the Ouachita River and its branches.
The breadth of the alluvial region along the Mississippi is from 10 to 60 miles
(15 to 100 km), and along the other streams it averages about 10 miles (15 km).
The Mississippi flows upon a ridge formed by its own deposits, from which the lands inclines toward the
low swamps beyond at an average fall of six feet per mile (3 m/km). The
lands along other streams present similar features. These alluvial
lands are rarely inundated except when breaks occur in the levees by which
they are protected against the floods of the Mississippi and its
tributaries. These floods, do not occur every year, and they may be
said to be exceptional. With the maintenance of strong levees these
alluvial lands would enjoy perpetual immunity from inundation. The uplands
and contiguous hill lands have an area of more than 25,000 square miles
(65,000 kmē), and 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. Only two other states
in the union, Florida and Delaware, are actually geographically flatter than
Louisiana. Louisiana, albeit now famous for the recent tragedies,
is also home to wonderful Zydeco music, wonderful spicy foods, Marti Gras and
a host of vibrant and fun festivals |
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