A STORM OUT AT SEA1 On August 24 2005 people along the United States Gulf Coast woke up to another hot summer day The Gulf Coast region borders the Gulf of Mexico stretching from Texas through Louisiana Mississippi and Alabama to Florida’s western coast The Gulf Coast’s beaches and other seaside attractions draw thousands of tourists each year Many visit one of the country’s most famous cities New Orleans New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana For centuries the region was home to American Indians In 1541 explorer Hernando de Soto claimed the area for Spain Then in 1682 a French explorer Robert de La Salle claimed the Louisiana region for France Soon after settlers from Spain and France moved to the area People from other European countries including England and Germany soon followed People from Africa and the West Indies also arrived on the coast Many were brought to the region as slaves This early mix of cultures shaped modern New Orleans 4
By the late 1800s New Orleans was a bustling city Steamboats carried goods and people down the Mississippi River to its busy seaport 5
The residents of New Orleans are diverse In the summer of 2005 about 484,000 people lived there Many were descendants of French settlers Others were descendants of the African American slaves and free blacks who had lived in the state Others had Spanish or American Indian ancestors New Orleans also had a large number of people living in poverty The city’s diverse mix of people created a unique culture This gave the city its reputation for good food great music and colorful celebrations The city’s most famous slogan is Laissez les bons temps rouler It means Let the good times roll New Orleans is known for its architecture which reflects a blend of influences 6
Mardi Gras is a popular celebration in New Orleans featuring a big parade with colorful floats and costumes 7
