State Facts

Parts of the Mississippi River delta plain near New Orleans lie below sea level.
 

Mardi Gras is a celebration that is known world wide.  It is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe.  It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice. This custom was brought to Louisiana by the French.
 

More than one-half of the species of birds in North America are resident in Louisiana or spend a portion of their migration there.
 

Louisiana is among the top ten states in the production of sugar cane (2nd), sweet potatoes (2nd), rice (3rd), cotton (5th) and pecans (5th).
 

On January 8, 1815, a large British force stormed New Orleans, but was thrown back by forces commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson.

Louisiana has the greatest concentration of crude oil refineries, natural gas processing plants and petrochemical production facilities in the Western Hemisphere.

Louisiana is the nation's largest handler of grain for export to world markets. More than 40 percent of the U.S. grain exports move through Louisiana ports.

Because of its many bays and sounds, Louisiana has the longest coastline (15,000 miles) of any state and 41 percent of the nation's wetlands.

The town of Jean Lafitte was once a hideaway for pirates.

Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of the Acadians who were driven out of Canada in the 1700s because they wouldn't pledge allegiance to the King of England.