Southern Climate, Vegetation, & Topography

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Spanish moss hanging from live oaks. Magnolias blooming in March with Spanish moss. Early morning mist in the Atchafalaya basin during a wet Spring (2003). Cyprus was logged. The wood does not rot, so is ideal for housing in this humid climate.

The rivers of southern Louisiana historically flooded in the Spring (and many still do, as illustrated by the River Opelousas in Washington), creating natural levees. Cyprus swamps are found throughout southern Louisiana: a tour of the Atchafalaya River in March is provided here. The water levels today are controlled with concrete walls, gates, and pumps, as shown along the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City.

Rayne, LA, the frog capital and now the mural capital. In the past, the surrounding rice fields once provided ideally habitats for frogs and the export of frog legs. With the enclosure of the rice-field canals, grogs are no longer harvested, but their past glory is presented in 12 murals throughout the town. A type of crawfish that is not eaten creates mud chimneys as it tries to reach the water table. These chimneys appear in many lawns!

The Mississippi River has always played an important role in shaping of the physical landscape and lives of the people who live on and near it. South of Houma, fishing is a vital part of the economy and of the local foods. As weather conditions change -- from sunshine to fog -- the rivers take on different moods.

Hurricanes hit the coast of Louisiana each season. People plan for these severe storms by boarding up their windows in old and new houses.

Based on field work by Ingolf Vogeler in March 2003; created on 25 March 2003.