LA, its Mississippi River delta clearly visible in this NASA photo

Bayous, bald cypress, and the Mississippi River Delta. Louisiana's terrain has not changed much in millions of years. Most of it resembles a primordial swamp. A mysterious blend of black shadows combine with a gentle breeze that casts ever changing reflections in its mirrored waters. Reminiscent of the days when huge dinosaurs roamed the earth. Sights and sounds which are unique to Louisiana and these bayous.

Europeans first set their eyes on these bayous in 1519 when the Spanish explorer Alonso Alverez de Pineda traveled to the Mississippi River. Followed in 1543 by the Hernando de Soto expedition which traversed the Southeastern United States from Florida north through Arkansas. Before traveling south down the Mississippi River to Louisiana. Claiming this state and most of what is now the Southeastern U.S. for Spain.

Subsequent exploration by the Frenchman Sieur de LaSalle placed another claim on Louisiana for France. The beginning of a dispute that continued for centuries. The outcome was a distinctive blend of both these early European influences. Readily apparent in Louisiana's architecture and cuisine.

While being vigorously contested by both Spain and France, it was the British or newly emerging American nation that was foreseen dominating the New World. With many in France feeling the loss of Louisiana imminent, they supported getting something now or nothing later. And with noone knowing the full extent of this territory's riches, America was able to purchase Louisiana and all the land west of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains from France for a token amount.The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 more than doubled the size of the United States for a mere $15 million or about two cents an acre. Thirteen states or parts of states have been carved from the Louisiana Purchase. They are: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Life in Louisiana has always been linked to the Mississippi River. Its ports an integral tie between the U.S. and nation's abroad. During westward expansion, Louisiana connected St. Louis to the West and the Orient. Even today Louisiana relies heavily on its shipping lanes in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana has four of the ten busiest ports in the U.S. at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Plaquemine, and the Port of Louisiana. Built in large part to support its huge shipments of oil and natural gas. Louisiana is the nation's third largest producer of petroleum.

In agriculture Louisiana is led by sugarcane, rice, and cotton. Ranking second in sugarcane (behind Florida), third in rice (behind Arkansas and California), and fourth in cotton (behind Texas, California, and Mississippi).

The abundance of fish and shrimp caught in Louisiana's waters makes seafood plentiful and inexpensive. Fisherman pull in more than 1.2 billion pounds annually or the nation's second largest seafood harvest outside Alaska. Record crawfish yields in recent years have dispelled any idea that this will soon change.

LA, the state's seafood production ranks second only to Alaska

A direct outcome of this harvest is the perfection of exquisite seafood entrees which have risen from almost daily experimentation with seafood. Desire for variety has created innovative recipes with never before tested combinations of spices to compliment their meals. After years of experimentation, the residents of Louisiana have perfected a unique blend of hot Cajun and rich Creole food. From seafood gumbo to shrimp creole and seafood jambalaya, no state prepares seafood with so much zest and flavor.