Chapter 2: Key terms and places pg. 34 textbook Interactive notebook pgs. 23-24 Louisiana’s Geography

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Louisiana’s Location (IN 25) Geographers answer where someone/something is in 2 ways: Absolute or relative location Absolute location – a specific spot on earth (address or longitude and latitude coordinates) Relative location – where a place is, in relation to another (Subway is across Riverdale Dr. from RMS)

Louisiana in the United States (IN 25) Louisiana lies between 20°55’ and 33° North latitude and between 89° and 94° West longitude Louisiana is nearly in the direct center of the United States with 24 states to its east, and 25 states to its west. Louisiana ranks 31st in size, total area of 49,651 square miles. 12 Louisiana's could fit in Alaska 48 Rhode Islands could fit in Louisiana

Boundaries (IN 26) Latitude and longitude can also mark boundaries Between LA and MS 31st Parallel North (31° N Latitude) Between AR (Arkansas) and LA 33rd Parallel North Between LA and TX 94th Meridian West (94° West Longitude)

Waterways form boundaries: Mississippi River – upper boundary between LA and MS Pearl River – Lower boundary between LA and MS Gulf of Mexico – LA’s Southern Boundary Sabine River (and Toledo Bend)- LA and TX boundary

Louisiana’s Waterways (IN 27) Water is dominant feature of LA and has shaped the physical landscape LA has almost 5,000 miles of Navigable (water is safe enough for safe travel by boat) rivers, bayous, creeks, and canals The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway extends more than 1,100 miles from Florida’s Panhandle to Brownsville, TX Part of this Passage runs parallel to the LA gulf coast

Rivers (IN 27) Many names for the Mississippi River shows its importance in the history of North America Algonquin: “Messipi” meaning Great river Spanish: “Rio del Espiritu Santo” meaning River of the Holy Spirit Mark Twain: “The basin of the Mississippi is the body of the Nation” Another writer: “Nile of America”

Mississippi River Covers more than 1,245,000 square miles Drains more than 31 states Funnels 375 billion gallons of water through LA each day Brings 256 million tons of sediment down the river each year

(IN 28) Red River Second Largest river drainage area Begins as a creek in eastern New Mexico Ends in Avoyelles Parish where commercial fishing boats harvest catfish from their hoop newts Ouachita River Begins as a stream in the Arkansas mountains Little river and Tensas River join to form the Black River in Catahoula Parish Black River Flows into the red river which connects with the Atchafalaya

Atchafalaya- Based off Choctaw words hache meaning river and falia meaning long 1830s river was cleared of logs which increased water flow Today it still gets the water of the Red River plus 30% of the Water volume of the Mississippi River Pearl River Begins in east-central Mississippi and flows to Lake Borgne (BORN) Forms part of the boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi Divides into East and West Pearl River Area between the 2 branches is a prized natural habitat, Honey Island Swamp

(IN 29) Calcasieu River Begins in the hills of Vernon Parish 1926 a deep water channel was dig to connect Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway canal connects the Calcasieu with the Sabine River to the west Lake Charles is the 3rd largest port in Louisiana Sabine River Part of the geography and history of LA and TX Rises in the uplands of east texas, then turns south to form the Boundary between the 2 states 1967 LA and TX engineered Toledo Bend Largest reservoir in LA and 5th in US Covers 186,000 acres Provides electricity, a water supply and great fishing and boating

Lakes (IN 30) Man Made Lakes : Toledo Bend: Largest man made in the South Lake D’ Arbonne in Union Parish Lake Claiborne in Claiborne Parish Sibley Lake in Natchitoches Parish Lake Chicot in Evangeline Parish Natural Lakes Lake Pontchartrain: Largest in Louisiana, crossed on 24 mile long Causeway Bridge; 10-16 feet deep; Brackish water (mix of salt and fresh) Lake Maurepas – lagoonal lake west of Lake Pontchartrain

Lakes created by LA rivers: Cutoff Lakes Formed as rivers seek shorter, straighter courses through flat terrain Bends in river become lakes when river takes a straighter route False River in Pointe Coupee Lake Bruin in Tensas Parish Larto Lake in Catahoula Parish Cane River Lake in Natchitoches Parish

IN 31 Red river created another kind of Lake – Raft Lakes Huge logjams or rafts blocked the flow of the river Acted as a dam blocking the flow of the river Swamps near the river filled with water forming lakes Cado Lake in Caddo Parish Lake Bistieau in Bossier and Webster Parishes Marsh – forms where high ridges called chenieres (sha NEER) slow the river’s progress to the Gulf of Mexico Freshwater because chenier ridge blocks saltwater from entering the lakes White Lake in Vermillion Parish Grand Lake in Cameron Parish Calcasieu Lake in Calcasieu Parish IN 31

Bayous (IN 32) Waterway name most connected with Louisiana whose slogan is “The Bayou State” Hard to define since so many kids of streams are called Bayous Bayou comes from Choctaw language and means creek Early French called bayous “sleeping water” Some are miles long and deep enough for boats while others are shallow enough to walk across

Hundreds of Bayous across Louisiana Landscape with interesting names hinting at stories or legends Bayou Lafourche (lah FOOSH) “longest main street in the world” Center of life for people whose houses line this water road Bayou Teche Offered navigation route for steamboats traveling to st. Martinville.

On half Sheet of loose leaf TO BE TURNED IN: Assessment On half Sheet of loose leaf TO BE TURNED IN: Was your initial prediction at the beginning of the lesson (Question of the Day) correct? Did we answer the question of the Day? What is our big take away(s) from this lesson? Check for Understanding (IN 33) In complete sentences answer the questions on pages 39 (#1-4) and 47 # (1-5) Start after assessment and Finish for homework

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