The Mississippi River Delta

For the past 100 million years, redeposited sediment has gradually increased the size of the Mississippi River Delta. But over the past several decades, the coast of southern Louisiana has been losing rather than gaining land. This interactive feature illustrates how river management practices and severe weather events, including Hurricane Katrina, dramatically changed the size and shape of the Louisiana coastline and the Mississippi River Delta in the 20 years between 1985 and 2005. A background essay and list of discussion questions are also provided. Educational levels: Middle school, High school