Louisiana

• deep south and south central
• 20^th smallest state by area
• borders: Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico

• capital: Baton Rouge
• official language: English and French
• motto: union, justice and confidence (since 1902)
  
• big cities: New Orleans, Shreveport, Metairie, Lafayette
• about 135.ooo km², ~ 21.000 km² water area
• round 4.650.000 inhabitants
• gouverneur: John Bel Edwards
• highest hill: Driskill Mountains 163 m
  

• pelican state
  

many pelicans around the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River shores - since the colonists noted the prevalence of the bird

• creole state

• bayou state

stagnant or slow moving water, which is extremly brackish and swampy

• State lands were formed sediment washed down by the Mississippi River → enormous deltas, vast areas of coastal marsh and swamp
• rich southern biota: ibises, egrets, tree frogs, sturgeon, paddlefish, mississippi alligator
  
• elevated areas: fire produced longleaf pine forests and wet savannas
• many plants like orchids

• New Orleans Pelicans (Basketball)
• New Orleans Saints (Football)
• Shreveport Mudbugs (Hockey)
  

• Influence of French, Spanish, Indian and west African kitchen
• famous creole food
• people love seafood and simple dishes
• food combines the best of the immigrants traditions
  

• many festivals, customs, specialties and particularities
• festivals: more than 400 per years