Louisiana: a brief history and description

Given how many states were in the United States at the time Louisiana acquired Louisiana in 1812 (it became the eighteenth state in the count), we can safely say that this region had a significant impact on the further development of the whole country. Here the diversity of cultures of the colonists of various nations intertwined.

Geography

The state has an area of 135 thousand square kilometers and is located in the southern part of the state. It borders on Arkansas in the north, with the Mississippi in the east and with Texas in the west. The southern part of the region is washed by the Gulf of Mexico. In the northern part there are numerous hills with prairies and forests, including the highest point - Driskill Hill (163 meters above sea level). Approximately 1300 square kilometers of the territory are occupied by lakes and rivers. The lower part is characterized by large marshiness. The largest cities in Louisiana are New Orleans, Beausser City, Monroe, Lafayette and Alexandria, and its capital is Baton Rouge.

Short story

The first Europeans who came here were the Spaniards. In particular, in 1539 these lands were discovered by an expedition led by Hernando de Soto. At that time they were inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians. Active colonization of the region began in the seventeenth century, after the basin of the Mississippi River in 1682 proclaimed the property of France Cavalier de la Salle. Later this man was appointed a local governor. A few years later, the eastern part for some time was in British ownership. After the proclamation of US independence, in 1803, these lands in a larger territory were bought from the French ruler Napoleon for an amount of fifteen million dollars. Nine years later, a separate administrative unit was formed - the state of Louisiana (USA), whose capital the government chose the city of Baton Rouge.

Population

The population of the state is about 4.5 million people. According to this indicator, he is on the 22nd position in the country. If we talk about the ethnic composition, then white citizens account for about 63% of all residents, and for African Americans - 32%. All other people here represent Asians and representatives of other nationalities. English is native to 9 of 10 local residents. In addition, French and Spanish are quite common here.

Economy

The state of Louisiana is one of the most important centers of the country's mining industry. In particular, the earth's interior is rich in natural gas, oil, salt and sulfur. One can not but note the fact that there are two large oil storage facilities (the US reserve) on its territory, as well as the headquarters of leading industry companies, oil refineries and chemical plants. If we talk about agriculture, sugar cane, rice, cotton, corn, beans and potatoes prevail here. Rather developed on the local farms is the breeding of cattle, alligators, birds and crayfish. Among other things, Louisiana is an important center for water transport, as several million tons of cargo pass through local ports every day.

Climate

Over the region is dominated by a subtropical climate. The summer here is long and hot, and the winter is short and relatively warm. During the period from June to September, air temperature averages 32 degrees, and in winter it usually does not fall below 3 degrees. The region is not entirely favorable in terms of hurricanes, which from time to time arise in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the strongest in history happened in August 2005. He is known as Katrina. As a result, he killed 1836 people, and almost all of New Orleans was flooded. The total economic loss from the disaster authorities estimated at 125 billion dollars.

Interesting Facts

• The state of Louisiana, like all other regions of the United States, has its own symbol, which is a brown pelican. His image is on the official local flag and the press.
• Local administrative units are usually called parishes.
• Gambling is legal in the state.
• More than half of all American matches are produced here.
• Its name is Louisiana received in honor of the King of France Louis, better known as Louis XIV.
• About 41% of all American bogs are concentrated in the region.
• The famous American jazzman Louis Armstrong was born here, and the city of New Orleans is considered the birthplace of this musical direction.
• When buying the state from the French, the American government, except for Louisiana, received vast territories, which now are Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota and Oklahoma.
• One of the most popular places among tourists in the territory of Louisiana is the Country of Kahun - a marshy area of huge size that stretches in the south to the border with Texas. There are many birds, alligators and other fauna. In addition, the region has numerous art galleries, museums and exhibitions.
• There are several very curious laws on the territory of the state. In particular, it is forbidden to tie the alligator to a fire hydrant, gargle in public places and shoot a water pistol in the cashier during the bank robbery.