Louisiana is one of fifty American states. It is located in the southeastern region of the country, bordering the states of Arkansas in the north, Mississippi in the east, Texas in the west, and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The State has the nickname "The Pelican State" (The Pelican State), since this bird was very common on its coast.
Initially, Louisiana was a French colonial province, having passed under Spanish rule in 1763, and reverted back to French rule in 1800. On October 31, 1803, the United States officially purchased the territory of Louisiana, elevating it to the status of state on April 30, 1812.
The Mississippi, the second longest river in the United States, has a strong relationship with Louisiana, as the French discovered the region by following the river's path. Next to Florida, Louisiana is the state with the lowest average altitude in the US: just 30 meters. Its climate is subtropical, with very hot summers (average 29ºC) and mild winters (average 13ºC).
Due to low trade taxes and the fact that its climate is a little different from most of the country, many companies were attracted to the state, resulting in one of the highest economic growth rates in the states United. In general, its economy is quite diversified, with highlights to agriculture, livestock, trade, tourism and oil and natural gas exploration. Its largest city, New Orleans, was well known around the world after the numerous damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.