Geography

The landscape of Louisiana is divided into three geographic land areas:

East Gulf Coastal Plain : The region lying to the east of the Mississippi River is called the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The land is marshy and rises slightly in the north to rolling hills. Mississippi Alluvial Plain : Stretching along the Mississippi River from Arkansas in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain consists of ridges and hollows. The Mississippi Delta lying at the mouth of the Mississippi River consists of silt deposited by the river and is the most fertile area of Louisiana.

• West Gulf Coastal Plain : The region towards the west of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain is known as the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The area towards the south, along the gulf, is composed of barrier beaches. The northern section comprises marshlands, known as the Louisiana Prairies. Driskill Mountain, the highest point in the state, lies just forty miles from the Arkansas state line.