Transcript File

Unit 1
Louisiana's Physical and
Cultural Geography
Lessons
1-3 Objectives
•
I can use time zones in the United States or the International Date Line to
•
I can interpret a map or representation of a globe and calculate current times in different
places?
•
I can locate major landforms and geographic features, places, and bodies of water/waterways
on a map of Louisiana?
•
I can students construct a map based on narrative information?
•
I can students construct a chart or diagram to display geographical information in an
organized way?
•
I can describe and analyze the distinguishing physical and/or human characteristics of
Louisiana regions?
•
I can describe ways in which location and physical features have influenced historical events in
Louisiana and the development of the state?
•
I can explain how or why specific regions are changing as a result of physical phenomena?
•
I can identify and describe factors that cause a Louisiana region to change?
Lesson 1
Basic Map Skills
Lesson 1: Basic Map Skills
• Recognize basic parts of a map
• Understand basic map skills—longitude, latitude,
scale, etc.
• Examine different geographical features of Louisiana
What’s on a map?
 Maps have a lot of information.
 You need to know how to read them.
 There are several parts to a map
which explain details and help you
really see where you are and where
you're going.
Parts of a map
 Legend
 Compass Rose
 Cardinal Directions
 Scale
Legend
 Help you decode the
symbols used on a
map.
 Also called a key.
 The “clues” on this
map include symbols
for parts of a fairground.
Compass Rose
 The compass
rose shows the
cardinal
directions on a
map: north,
south, east, and
west.
Scale
 The scale helps you
measure the
distance between
two places. When
you know the
distance you can
calculate how long
the trip will take.
Types of Maps
Some Types of Maps are:
 Political –shows boundaries, states,
countries, that are man made
 Reference
 Physical –shows natural features, i.e.,
water, landforms, etc.
 Historical
 Economic
 Road map
Location
Location and distance are stated using a system
known as latitude and longitude.
Two Types:
absolute location for a place is the exact spot on
the earth’s surface where a place is found. The
line of latitude is always read first followed by the
line of longitude.
Relative location: explains where a place is in
relation to another place or places.
Latitude
 Parallels measure a
location’s distance N or S.
of the equator and run from
E to W.
 Latitude is measured in
degrees from 0 to 90.
 Famous line of latitude is
the equator and it is 0
degrees. It runs around the
center of the earth and
divides the earth in half.
The tropic of
Cancer and
Capricorn got their
names thousands
of years ago due
to the sun’s
position in relation
to the Earth at two
different times of
the year. (winter
and summer)
Longitude
 Meridians measure a
location’s distance E or W
of the prime meridian and
run from N to S.
 Longitude is measured in
degrees from 0 to 180.
 Famous line of longitude is
the Prime Meridian and it is
0 degrees. It runs around
the center of the earth
through Greenwich,
England and divides the
earth in half.
Time Zones
 Earth has 24 time zones.
 United States has six.
 Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern are the
four time zones in the contiguous (connected)
United States.
 The earth rotates on its axis once every
24 hours. For this reason, the earth is
divided into 24 standard time zones,
one time zone for each hour in the day.
 The earth rotates towards the east,
which means that if you cross into the
next time zone to the east, it is one hour
later. If you cross into the next time
zone in the west, it is one hour earlier.
 The International Date Line plays an
important role in time zones. It is located
at 180 degrees longitude.
 If you are standing on the east side of the
International Date Line it is one day
(Monday); however, on the west side, it is a
day ahead (Tuesday).
 Louisiana (LA) is in the central time zone.
 Add an hour as you move east.
 Subtract an hour as you move west.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
O Add an hour as you move east
O Subtract an hour as you move west
Lets Review
“What's your zone”
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
O Create a time zone question
for a partner, switch questions
and see if they get the correct
answer. 2 minutes go! (you
can use loose leaf)
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
Lesson 1 Closure
Objective: Can students use time zones in the United States or
the International Date Line to Interpret a map or representation
of a globe and calculate current times in different places?
Did we meet the objective for today?
I can locate major landforms and geographic features, places,
and bodies of water/waterways on a map of Louisiana?
I can construct a map based on narrative information?
Louisiana’s
Geography
States that border LA
 Mississippi—East (33ْ N)
 Texas—West (94ْ W)
 Arkansas—North (33ْ N)
Waterways that border LA
East
 Upper east--MS River
 Lower east-- Pearl River
West
 Toledo Bend
 Sabine River
South
 Gulf of Mexico
Pangaea
Gulf Coastal Plain
 During the Ice Age, much of the world’s water was trapped in
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glaciers.
Ocean levels were about 400 feet lower than today.
The glaciers froze and melted several times.
As the glaciers melted, the Mississippi River flooded the Louisiana
coastline.
Mississippi River deposited sediment into the Gulf of Mexico, filling
in part of it.
Sediment: suspended particles of dirt and sand carried by rivers
Coastal plains developed.
Coastal plain: relatively low flat region built up by river sediment
Continental shelf: the edge of landmass where the Gulf’s floor
drops off into very deep water
The Gulf Coastal Plain is formed of layers of river sediment.
Louisiana lies entirely on the Gulf Coastal Plain.
Gulf Coastal Plain
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
Go to prezi/youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8_I_
9Bdbs
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
Lesson 2
Rivers and Coastal Erosion
Objectives
 Appreciate the geography of Louisiana
 Identify problems/ propose solutions for Louisiana’s
wetlands and coast
 Understand the impact of natural disasters on Louisiana
and the effects of them
Rivers
 Rivers’ sediment creates the land.
 Rivers’ movement shapes the land.
Floodplains
 A floodplain is a low flat valley with swamps, lakes and
deciduous trees. It also serves as a reservoir to hold
excess water when the river floods.
Deltas
 Formed when a river flows into an ocean
 Mississippi Delta: where the river enters the Gulf of
Mexico
Coastal Marshes
 Wet grasslands formed
by river sediment
deposited along the
coast.
 Freshwater, saltwater,
or brackish (mixture)
depending on nearness
to the ocean.
Coastal Erosion
 One of Louisiana’s biggest ecological problems
 More than 35 square miles of land is lost each year.
Going…Going…Gone?
Causes of Coastal Erosion
 As the river abandons its original delta, sediment no
longer rebuilds the coastline.
 Pounding waves and severe storms accelerate erosion.
 Global warming causes ocean levels to rise, which
causes coastal marshes to disappear.
 Levee systems force sediment into the deep waters of
the Gulf, where it cannot settle and rebuild the
coastlines.
Coastal Area At Risk
Human Interference
Damaging Practices
 Dammed rivers create reservoirs that trap the
sediment that would otherwise refresh the
marshland.
 The search for oil involves the construction of
pipelines and canals that allow saltwater intrusion,
which kills the marsh grasses that hold soil in place.
 Marshlands may sink because of vast holes created
by underground drilling for oil and/or salt.
Preservation Measures
 Grasses are being planted to keep soil intact.
 Sand is pumped onto barrier islands to reinforce
them.
What are wetlands?
Wetlands- swamps, marsh, and other
areas that have a natural supply of
water and are covered or soaked with
water at least part of the year.
Uses of LA’s wetlands
 Recreational opportunities
 Thriving habitats
 Wildlife pantry
 Water filter (maintains water quality)
 Storm buffer/controls flooding
 Economic resource
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural Geography
Problems facing LA Wetlands
 Coastal Erosion
 Flooding
 Natural Causes: subsidence, wave erosion, salt water intrusion, sea
level rising, tropical storms/hurricanes
 Human Causes: because of our ever-increasing population,
humans have eliminated or converted millions of acres of wetlands
for other uses. We drain wetlands to create more land for
agriculture and urban development.
Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing at a rate of one football field
EVERY 30 MINUTES
Louisiana animals are
losing their habitat.
What can we do to help?
 Get Involved!
 Save Water (reduced amount of water going through
sewage treatment plants)
 Dispose of household products, pesticides, and other
chemicals carefully
 Help to control soil erosion (reduce hard surfaces around
your home)
 Recycle your Christmas Trees!
 Conservation
 Regulate Use
 Restoration Projects
(EX: replanting marsh grasses)
Closure Lesson 2
Can students describe and analyze the distinguishing physical
and/or human characteristics of Louisiana regions?
Can students describe ways in which location and physical
features have influenced historical events in Louisiana and the
development of the state?
Can students explain how or why specific regions are changing as
a result of physical phenomena?
Can students identify and describe factors that cause a Louisiana
region to change?
Lesson 3
Louisiana’s Natural Resources
 Appreciate the natural resources found in Louisiana
 Identify Louisiana’s natural resources and locate them
on a map
Louisiana’s Natural Resources
 Mississippi delta is rich with natural resources.
Sulphur:
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Closely associated with salt domes
Used to make acids, fertilizer, rubber, paper, and other
products
One of Louisiana’s important minerals
Oil:
 Oil production has been the most important part of our economy
for many years.
Coal:
 Created when organic material is compressed by layers of sediment
Physical and Cultural Geography
Geography: the study of places, their locations, and their
physical and human characteristics
Physical geography: the study of landforms, oceans, weather,
and climate
Cultural geography: the study of how people have interacted
with, changed, and adapted to different places on the earth
Louisiana’s physical geography has
shaped its cultural geography.
Geographic Location
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Southern or southeastern part of the country
Resembles a boot
Florida Parishes stretch from Baton Rouge to Hammond
to Bogalusa
Of the 50 states, LA ranks 31st in size
3,600 square miles of water (1/4 of the state is wet)
Boundaries
Four natural boundaries:
• Mississippi River to the east
• Pearl River to the east
• Gulf of Mexico to the south
• Sabine River to the west
Three artificial boundaries:
• 33 north latitude: Separates Louisiana and Arkansas
• 31 north latitude: Separates the Florida Parishes
from Mississippi
• 94 west longitude: Separates Louisiana from Texas
Louisiana’s
Boundaries
Closure: How did we meet our
daily objectives?
. Can students describe and analyze the distinguishing
physical and/or human characteristics of Louisiana
regions?
. Can students construct a chart or diagram to display
geographical information in an organized way?
Lessons 4-6
Louisiana Regions
Natural Land Regions
 Determined by climate, soil, vegetation, and
relief
 Relief: the difference in elevation between the
highest and lowest points of area
o Flat land = low relief
o Hilly land = high relief
 Three natural regions:
o Coastal Marshes
o Floodplains
o Uplands
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Coastal Marshes
• Louisiana Gulf Coast is mostly coastal
marshes.
• Vegetation is grasses and other plants;
trees are uncommon.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
• Low, flat valleys
through which a
river flows
• Has Swamps,
sloughs, bayous,
and lakes
• Rich, fertile land,
which is good for
agriculture
•Level land along MS
River subject to flooding
•Alluvial & fertile soil
•Valuable agricultural
crops
•SWAMPS = flooded
forests
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
•
Highest elevation
in the state
•
Driskill Mountain,
the highest point
in the state, is 535
feet above sea
level.
•
Piney Hills (largest
upland area)
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
 Louisiana Hurricane/flooding evacuation route
writing activity
 Reason: I need a Hurricane Evacuation Plan
because I live in Louisiana.
 Preparation
 Family
 We need to get to Safe Place
 Hurricanes/flooding can be disastrous in Louisiana.
 Closing Sentence: I want to make sure I am fully
prepared for a category 5 hurricane, my family is safe,
and we have a safe location we can evacuate to for an
extended period of time.
Put your route in Chronological Order
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Chronological Order Of Route
First: Leave Baton Rouge, make sure house is secure,
valuables are up high and locked.
Second: Leave Baton Rouge via I-10/I-12 East; bring
essentials: water, nonperishable's; make sure car has a
full tank of gas.
Third: Head towards Atlanta, GA, starting on I-10/I-12E
until you hit I-65N crossing into Georgia.
Fourth: Stay in Atlanta, GA with aunt/uncle OR college
friend(s) until it is safe to come home.
Fifth: If Atlanta is not safe, I would attempt to clarify
this information previously and either A) travel with one
of my roommates outside of Baton Rouge or B) head to
Dallas to stay with one of my brothers friends from the
Marines.
Lesson 5
Louisiana Water ways
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Our many waterways make our state:
• Productive
• Famous
• Mysterious
• Home to a unique ecosystem
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
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Main artery of Louisiana
Second largest river in the United States-(begins in
Minnesota and ends in the Gulf)
Fourth largest river in the world
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
• Second longest
river in Louisiana
• High salt content
because it flows
over an
underground salt
dome
• Only major river in
Louisiana that has
white water rapids
• Rapides Parish
(French for rapids)
•
Longest distributary (branch
of a river that flows away
from the main stream) of the
Mississippi River
•
Half of all the nation’s
migratory birds migrate to
the Atchafalaya.
•
Basin supplies the world with
23 million pounds of crawfish
a year.
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Begins in the mountains of
Arkansas and runs through
northeast Louisiana
•
Regulated by a series of locks
that allow commercial barge
traffic to travel to Arkansas
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The Sabine River forms the western border
between Texas and Louisiana.
•
The Pearl River forms the lower eastern border
between Mississippi and the toe of the Louisiana
boot.
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The Calcasieu River lies within the state and is
often used for transportation.
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Joins the Atchafalaya near the Gulf of Mexico
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The Acadians (Cajuns) settled along its banks.
The 3,000-mile Gulf
Intracoastal
Waterway allows
ships to travel from
Texas to Florida
without sailing into
the Gulf.
Why might ships
travel the
Intracoastal route as
opposed to the Gulf
of Mexico?
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
• Fifth largest sea in the world
• Covers almost 600,000 square miles
• Warm waters affect Louisiana’s
climate and economy.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
 Label key rivers in Louisiana (L1)
 Analyze city growth along the rivers (L4)
 Explain why cities exist in close proximately to the
rivers (1)
 Draw Conclusions about why cities flourished along
major road ways
How has the levee system improved? Do you think
it will work to keep flood waters out? Why or why
not?
• Levees
• Old River Control Structure
• Log Jams
• Spillways
• Locks and Dams
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
 Built along both sides of a river
 Earliest ones built by the French in the 1700s.
 Raised sides keep water inside the channel,
protecting the land outside the levee from
flooding.
 If too much water is confined during heavy
rains, the levee can break and flood the
surrounding land. This is what happened in
New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
 Prevents sediment from depositing along the
coast, contributing to coastal erosion.
Why is that a problem?
 Channels half of the
Mississippi River’s
water and all of the
Red River’s water
into the Atchafalaya
River
 Kept the Mississippi
River from changing
courses
 Bonnet Carré is on the east bank of the
Mississippi, upstream from New Orleans.
 Morganza is on the west bank of the Mississippi,
upstream from Baton Rouge.
 During floods, one-quarter of the Mississippi’s
water can be diverted through the spillway into
Lake Pontchartrain.
 Morganza protects the levee system by diverting
water out of the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya
Basin.
 It relieves pressure on the state’s levee system.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
 Identify different Louisiana waterways, how they are
formed, how they are used. (1)
 Can you infer based on what you know about levees
why they are important to Louisiana? Why are they
such a problem? (2)
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and Cultural
Geography
Lesson 7: Climate of Louisiana
• Recognize that Louisiana has a humid
subtropical climate
• Identify the characteristics of a humid subtropical
climate
• Compare and contrast the seasons in Louisiana
• Understand the impact that natural disasters
can/have had on Louisiana
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
What type of climate
does Louisiana have?
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Climate
• Weather is temperature, wind, and rain on a
daily basis
• Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a
region.
• Climate is affected by latitude, altitude, and
nearness to large land masses or large
bodies of water.
• The state’s southern latitude and nearness
to the Gulf of Mexico gives the state a warm,
stable climate
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Humid Subtropical Climate
• Hot summers, mild winters, and abundant
precipitation
• Favorable to tourism and agriculture
• Lower winter energy costs can help make
operating a business, school, or agency
less expensive.
• Certain plants and animals thrive in this
climate.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Hurricane Ratings and Formation
• Hurricanes start in the moist air over warm waters,
such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.
• Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30.
• Severity is rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Scale.
• Categories range from 1 to 5 depending on the
storm’s severity
• Category 1: wind speeds are 74-95 miles per hour
• Category 5: winds over 155 mph
• Southeastern Louisiana gets hit most often
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Storm Surge
• Most dangerous part of a hurricane
• Ocean water rises several feet higher
than normal
• High winds push the wall of water
onshore
• Can reach as high as 20 feet
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Katrina and Rita
• New Orleans is vulnerable to hurricanes
because it is below sea level and depends
on the levees to protect it.
• August 2005: Katrina’s rain caused the
levees to break; water poured into the city.
• Approximately 1,000 people were killed, 1
million people lost homes, and the city
suffered more than $100 billion in damages.
• Rita hit the Gulf a few weeks later, flooding
New Orleans and the surrounding parishes a
second time.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Flooding from Hurricane Katrina
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=HbJaMWw4-2Q
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Closure: How did we meet our
daily objectives?
• Recognize that Louisiana has a humid
subtropical climate
• Identify the characteristics of a humid
subtropical climate
• Understand the impact that natural
disasters can/have had on Louisiana
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Lesson 8: Populations
• Compare U.S., state, and parish statistics
• Identify cultural regions in Louisiana by creating
a chart
• Understand how growth rate and population
trends have changed over time
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Growth Rates
• Louisiana attracts fewer immigrants than any other
state.
• Growth rate is 5.9% (1/2 the national average).
• Birth rate is dropping.
• Population is aging.
• Louisiana offers few jobs in high-tech industries;
difficult times in the oil and gas industries have
caused additional job loss.
• This has a negative impact on the state’s economy
and the quality of education and services that can
be provided to Louisiana’s citizens.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Population Density
Definition: The average number of people
living per square mile.
• Average population density in LA is 103
people per square mile.
• Average population density without New
Orleans is 66 people per square mile.
• Average population density in the U.S. is
79 people per square mile.
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Population Distribution by Race: 2010
• http://www.usa.com/louisiana-statepopulation-and-races.htm
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/census/2000/lasdc2002_files/frame.htm
Cultural Regions
• South Louisiana
o Strong French culture
o Catholic Church is prominent
o Traditional Cajun foods, architecture, and music
remain popular
• North Louisiana and the Florida Parishes
o More like other parts of the Deep South
o Settled by English-speaking Protestants
o Little French influence is evident
• Western Louisiana
o Spanish cultural influences dating back to settlers
who began arriving in the 1700s
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Closure: How did we meet our
daily objectives?
• Compare U.S., state, and parish statistics
• Identify cultural regions in Louisiana by
creating a chart
• Understand how growth rate and
population trends have changed over time
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Lesson 9: Culture of Louisiana
• Identify culture and what makes up Louisiana’s
culture
• Identify push and pull factors of immigrants
• Appreciate the diversity of Louisiana’s people
• Describe one or more influences the selected
groups have had on Louisiana’s cultural
tapestry
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Louisiana’s State Flag
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
State Motto
• Union, Justice and Confidence
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Cultural Influences
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Festivals—Mardi Gras
Voodoo, African/West Indies
Cajun/Creole cooking
Cajun Language
Music—Jazz, gospel, zydeco music
Religions
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
What is Culture?
Culture: the way of life of a group of
people. Includes:
–religion
–music
–food
–clothing
–language
–architecture
–art
–literature
–games
–sportsUnit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Religion
• 1st European religion in Louisiana was
Roman Catholic
• France and Spain were Catholic countries
• After Louisiana Purchase in 1803,
members of Protestant religions moved
into the area
• Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians
later joined by others such as Lutherans
• More recently - Jews, Buddhists, and
Muslims
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Music
• New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz
• Jazz has spread all over the globe as
an ambassador for Louisiana culture
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Food
• Louisiana has a world-class seafood
industry –crawfish, crab, and shrimp
• Cajun and Creole foods are associated
with South Louisiana
• Louisiana foods and recipes have spread
across the world
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
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Cultural Geography
Louisiana’s People
• Ethnic Groups
– Ethnic group: people who share common
traditions, beliefs, & patterns of living
– These patterns include language, religion,
customs, & food.
– People of Louisiana more diverse than some
tourists expect
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Acadians
• French Canadians
migrated from present
day Nova Scotia
(Canada) to Louisiana in
the 18th century
• The word Cajun came
from the French word
Acadianne or “people of
Acadia”
• 22 parishes form this
triangle of Cajun culture
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
African Americans
• Came first as slaves to colonial Louisiana from West
Africa
• Others came from the French colonies of the West
Indies
• Gumbo is a gift from these Wolof & Bambara people
• Creoles were gnes de couleur libre or free people of
color
• St. Landry Parish home to several large Creole
communities
• Speak French and are known for Zydeco music
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
American Indians
• Descendants of the earliest residents
• Have land and tribal headquarters in
several parts of the state
• Chitimacha, Choctaw, Coushatta, TunicaBiloxi, & Houma are the primary tribes
remaining in LA
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Anglos
• Anglo culture developed in the British
colonies on the eastern coast of the United
States
• Includes English-speaking heritage of the
Scots-Irish
• Religion is Protestant
• Culture is described as lowland South
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Germans
• Immigrated to Louisiana during early colonial
years
• German language soon blended with the
dominant French culture
• Creation of Robert’s Cove
• Elements of German heritage remain
• December 6th religious feast of St. Nicholas
goes from house to house
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Hispanics
• Isleños (LAY nyos) means “islanders”
• Descended from Canary Islanders while
Louisiana was a Spanish colony
• Reside in St. Bernard Parish
• Speak the Spanish dialect & sing those songs
called decimas
• Most recent Hispanics come from Mexico
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Italians
• Large group of immigrants arrived in the 19th
century
• Largest group lives in Independence in
Tangipahoa Parish
• Contributed a custom known as St. Joseph’s
Altar
– Brought from Sicily & includes a feast for friends &
families
– Visitors are given a dried fava bean for good luck
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Other Ethnic Groups
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Croatians from the coast of the Adriatic Sea
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Descendants live in Plaquemines Parish
Share region with Filipino immigrants.
Vietnamese have come to the wetlands
Chinese came during the 19th century
Czechs in Rapides Parish & Hungarian in Livingston
Parish
Arabs, Greeks, & natives of India
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography
Families
• Tradition of family reunions continues &
grows
• Traditions of the past combine with the
customs of today
• Music, food, clothing, language, games, &
sports blend into the cultural picture of
Louisiana
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
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Cultural Geography
Closure: How did we meet our
daily objectives?
• Identify culture and what makes up
Louisiana’s culture
• Identify push and pull factors of
immigrants
• Appreciate the diversity of Louisiana’s
people
• Describe one or more influences the
selected groups have had on Louisiana’s
cultural tapestry
Unit 1: Louisiana’s Physical and
Cultural Geography