From the lecture in classroom, I learned that Mississippi river delta is one of the greatest natural resource in America. The delta covers over 3 million acres of land stretching from to Chandeleur Island in the gulf of Mexico located in Louisiana’s southeastern cost to the Vermillion Bay. The delta is part of the coastal plains of Louisiana which is one of united state’s largest coastal wetlands. In addition, the river delta formed over 6900 years ago as the Mississippi river deposited silt, clay, and sands long the bank of the river in the adjoining basins (Sharp, 2005). The culture and history that is linked to the delta is very unique since it is a strategic location for security and trade. After the opening of a canal in 1914, the delta became a very important transportation channel in addition to the expansion of local and commercial fisheries and shipping.
In addition to what I learned in class, I knew a number of things about the delta. These include the fact that Mississippi river delta is home of more than two million people since the location of the delta allowed cultural gateway into the country allowing people from different nationalities to mix and settle in the region. In addition, I know that the delta provides a natural habitat and other resources with vegetation and various wildlife that can benefit the state of Louisiana, the coastal region and as well as the entire nation. In addition, the Mississippi river delta is a source of a very strong economy for Louisiana that relies on tourism and recreational facilities like wildlife watching fishing, hunting, and also commercial fishing, fishing industries, oil and gas hence driving both the local and the national economy (Cobb, 1995). The City of New Orleans is located in the southern part of Louisiana on the coastal plains of the Mississippi river delta (Cobb, 1995).
There exists a relationship between the knowledge from the class and the prior knowledge I had on the Mississippi river delta. This is because the knowledge from the lecture and the textbook laid a good foundation to support my knowledge which lacked facts.
References
Sharp, D, C. (2005). The Mississippi River in 1953: A Photographic Journey From The Headwaters To The Delta. Chicago: Center for American Places.
Cobb, C, J. (1995). The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.