Louisiana Swamp Facts & History That You Probably Didn't Know About

Today, authorities are concerned with the land conservation of the Lousiana swamp.

Since the sediment in Louisiana is prone to compaction, the coastal management is aiming to provide coastal protection to the area. This is done to preserve the natural resources of the swamp.

The erosion on the eastern coastline of the Louisiana bayous is more likely to happen and at a larger scale than that of the western coastline. It is so because the former was made from silt deposits, which are more likely to erode.

Keep reading to know more about the Lousiana swamp so that you can spread awareness about conserving the wetlands there.

History And Origin Of The Louisiana Swamp

Louisiana swamps have a history that is rich in culture, languages, and heritage. It is so because during the 18th century the residents of Louisiana had Spanish, African, French, and Native American origins. Other residents of the place included Choctaw Indians.

Wetland regions provided these people with much-needed food and shelter. Moreover, these coastal wetlands also provided its residents with a safe space that was less likely to be invaded by outsiders.

Apart from Choctaw Indians, Lousiana was also home to Atakapa-Ishak Indians; and the United Houma Nation who were a tribe native to southern Louisiana. They made their livelihood by fishing and catching shrimps. Louisiana was also under the colonial rule of France and Spain during this time.

It only became a part of America in 1803 when Napoleon Bonaparte gave up the territory of Louisiana for 60 million francs. Due to this, the size of the American territory doubled.

Slavery was prevalent in the 19th century. New Orleans, a city in Louisiana came to be known as the most extensive slave market in the world in the year 1840.

The place also saw the dark days of forced migration. Soon after, America witnessed the Civil War which began on April 12, 1861 and ended on April 9, 1865.

After this event, the slaves were freed but there still prevailed the evils of disenfranchisement and segregation. The battle for civil rights began in Louisiana and America in general only after World War II (September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945) and the Great Depression (August 1929 - March 1933).

The wetland areas of Louisiana also faced natural calamities. One such natural calamity was Hurricane Katrina which hit the state in 2005. The eye of the hurricane struck New Orleans. Despite these facing multiple social evils, wars, and natural disasters, Louisiana now stands to be the happiest state in America.

Animals In The Louisiana Swamp

The Louisiana coast is located at half an hour's distance from the city of New Orleans. The swamps offer a wildlife tour as one of its most sought-after attractions.

What makes the experience special and unique for visitors is the presence of exotic animals that are indigenous to the swamps, cypress forests, and cypress swamps of the place. The region called the Barataria Preserve is known for wildlife tours and tours of the swamp.

Many animals reside in the cypress swamp of Louisiana. Here are some of the animals that can be seen in the Louisiana bayous and swamplands.

The American alligator, which is the most huge reptile residing in the United States of America, is indigenous to the freshwater marsh of Louisiana. They are in fact, one of the most renowned distractions of the place.

These animals have an average lifespan of 80 years. The length of these large reptiles can be estimated by measuring the distance from their snout to the middle of their eyes.

Louisiana swamps are also home to wild pigs. These are invasive species. They feed on wetland plants. Wild pigs have black skin or fur and they usually travel in groups.

The cypress forests provide shelter to horned turtles that are pretty big. Their size resembles that of alligator snapping turtles.

They can be seen swimming in the waters, on logs of cypress trees, or the Louisiana coast. Softshell turtles and common snapping turtles can also be spotted in the Lake Pontchartrain of Louisiana or other coastal regions. However, their sighting depends on the time of the year.

Wetlands are inhabited by river rats, which are also known as Nutria. They are also an invasive species that destroy the wetland ecosystem with their burrowing activities.

One of the most adorable animals found in the swamps is the otter. Their webbed feet help them swim in the water. They are also comfortable on land. They feed on birds, frogs, small rodents, fish, and crabs.

Apart from these animals, various birds can be spotted in this region. Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons are indigenous to the place. Other birds in the area include pelicans, cuckoos, hawks, warblers, loons, owls, and bald eagles. They can be often seen near water bodies like the Mississippi River.

Plant Life In The Louisiana Swamp

Although The Lousiana swamps are famous for their diversified wildlife, there is a lot of flora in this region that deserves special mention as well. The ecosystem of these swamplands includes some interesting plants. While some trees and plants are native, others are invasive. There are several flowering plants and weeds.

There is also significant marsh growth in these swamps. Water bodies like the Mississippi river have marshes downriver. Here are some of the notable flora of the Louisiana swamp.

Cypress trees are the most commonly available plants in this region. They are aquatic plants that grow in deep water. Their trunks are tall while the branches are thin. They have bright green leaves that are pointed. These trees provide food and shelter to many animals in the Louisiana swamps. Some animals also feed on their sap.

The duckweed plant is a floating one. They are usually found in large bodies of water. Their leaves form a clump of three and float on the surface. On some rare occasions, these weeds can produce flowers.

Spider lilies are flowering plants that are invasive to the region. These plants adapted to thrive in warm marsh regions. They can be found along the Gulf Coast.

Spider lilies have perennial flowers and they can grow up to a height of 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m). These flowers get their name because of their petals which are long and curled, making them look like the legs of a spider. The flowers are red or white.

The Spanish moss is usually seen on the branches of the cypress trees. Even though it is called moss, the Spanish moss is more of a plant. They have long fuzzy leaves. Given the perfect conditions, these plants can also flower.

Salvinia is another invasive species. They are originally from South America and hence, they prefer a humid and warm environment. These plants resemble lily pads and they float on water.

Myth Of The Louisiana Swamp Monster

There is a myth that revolves around the Lousiana swamp. The myth says that a monster resides in these swamplands.

The myth traces its way back to Cajun folklore. The Cajun folklore refers to the monster of the Louisiana swamps as the loup-garou or the rougarou. Legend describes this monster as having a human body with a head like that of a dog or a wolf.

It is said that this monster sets out on prowls in the Lousiana swamp looking for children who misbehave. When Cajun people left their homelands and migrated to the state of Louisiana, they brought along with the stories of werewolves.

These stories were European. The myth of the Lousiana swamp monster is believed to have been derived from these stories.

However, unlike werewolves, the Cajun folklore does not mention that the rougarou only prowls the swamps on a full moon. It is unknown whether the monster was out on the hunt for misbehaving kids only on full moons or if it's was daily.

FAQs

What is the Louisiana swamp monster?

The Lousiana swamp monster is a creature that originated in Cajun folklore. It is commonly known as the rougarou.

How many swamps are in Louisiana?

There is a total of 299 swamps in Louisiana. Some of the popular ones are Davis Lake, Grand Lake, and Cypress Point.

How much of Louisiana is a swamp?

40% of the continental wetlands of the United States of America fall under the Louisiana bayous and swamps.

Is Louisiana known for swamps?

Yes, the Louisiana bayous are known for their swamps. The Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana is the largest swamp in America.

How are swamps created?

Wooded wetlands are also called swamps, these occur on hydric soils. The Lousiana swamps were created after the Mississippi river overflowed making the flood sediment flow into the Gulf of Mexico.