Soil
Louisiana is divided into 5 natural regions based on differences in relief, soil, and vegetation: Mississippi Floodplain, Terraces, Marsh, Red River Valley and the Hills.

Crops
Forestry is the #1 agriculture industries in Louisiana (13.9 million acres of forests). The other top crops in Louisiana are sugarcane, cotton, rice, sweet potatoes, soybeans, feed grains, and produce. Ranked 2nd in sugarcane and sweet potatoes, 3rd in rice, and 5th in the nation in cotton and pecans. Louisiana is the sole source of the Tabasco pepper, a popular condiment known around the world and for perique tobacco, which is used as flavoring with other tobaccos.

Animals
Poultry is the largest animal industry in the state; in 2000, 1.1 billion pounds of broilers and 35.7 million dozen eggs were produced. Louisiana ranks #1 in the nation in the production of crawfish, shrimp, alligators, menhadden, and oysters. The commercial fishing industry produces 25% of all seafood in the U.S. and includes shrimp, menhadden (pogy), crabs, and several species of finfish.

Climate
Climate is humid, subtropical. The average annual precipitation ranges from 48" in the northwestern part of the state to 70" in the southeastern part of the state. January is the coldest month with temperatures ranging from 32°F to 55°F. July is the warmest month with temperature ranging from 73°F to 93°F.

General
Elevation ranges from approximately 4 feet below sea level in New Orleans to 535 feet above sea level on Driskell Mountain in Bienville Parish.The top three industries in Louisiana are the petrochemical industry, agriculture and tourism. Louisiana is the 3rd largest producer of petroleum and the 2nd largest producer of natural gas in the United States. Louisiana has the greatest concentration of crude oil refineries, natural processing plants and petrochemical products facilities in the Western Hemisphere. Louisiana has the longest coastline of any state – 15,000 miles. Louisiana has 5,000 miles of navigable waterways. Louisiana is home to 41% of the nation’s wetlands. The Mississippi River, which ends its journey in Louisiana by emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, drains at least 31 states. It is the Mississippi River that has formed much of the state. More than 40% of the U.S. grain exports move through Louisiana ports.