Louisiana

Louisiana is a southeastern state, geographically bordered on the north by Arkansas, west by Texas, east by Mississippi, and south by the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River flows through Baton Rouge and New Orleans, creating port cities important for international trade. In 2005, Louisiana was devastated by two hurricanes. Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the southeastern part of the state on August 29, while Hurricane Rita struck the southwestern part of the state on September 24. The storms severely impacted 24 percent of the state's school population, as thousands of students fled their home parishes or left the state altogether, and many schools remained closed for six months or longer. While the economy is heavily dependent upon tourism, primarily in New Orleans, the seafood ...