Geography of Lafayette, Louisiana facts for kids

Lafayette, Louisiana, is a city in the United States. It is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain region. The city sits about 36 feet (11 meters) above sea level. Many small streams flow through the area. The main river is the Vermilion River. This river is about 70 miles long. It flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Lafayette has a warm, humid climate. This climate helps many birds, alligators, and fish live here. Winters are usually mild. Lafayette is generally safe, but it can experience floods. Hurricanes are also a common natural event in this area.

Exploring Lafayette's Geography

Lafayette is located at 30°12′50″N 92°01′46″W / 30.213901°N 92.029363°W / 30.213901; -92.029363. It is about 36 feet (11 meters) above sea level. The city covers about 47.7 square miles (123.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Lafayette is on the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Long ago, during the Quaternary Period, this area was under the sea. The Mississippi River carved a deep valley nearby. This valley is now the Atchafalaya Basin. Lafayette is on the edge of this valley. This land is higher up and not a wetland. This helps Lafayette avoid major flooding problems.

Rivers and Waterways

The Vermilion River flows right through the middle of Lafayette. Other important waterways are Isaac Verot Coulee, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches, and Coulee Ile des Cannes. These are natural canals that drain into the Vermilion River.

Lafayette's Climate

Lafayette has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild. This is common for areas near the Gulf of Mexico. You can see the average temperatures in the table below.