Gulf Coast - Definition and Overview

The Gulf Coast region of the United States is comprised of the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are Gulf Coast states. The Gulf Coast is sometimes referred to as the "third coast".

The Gulf Coast is a major center of economic activity. The marshlands along the Louisiana and Texas coasts provide breeding grounds and nurseries for ocean life that drive the fishing and shrimping industries. The Port of South Louisiana (New Orleans) and the Port of Houston are two of the ten busiest ports in the world by cargo volume. The discovery of oil and gas deposits along the coast and offshore, combined with easy access to shipping, have made the Gulf Coast the heart of the US petrochemical industry.

The Gulf Coast is intersected by numerous rivers, the largest being the Mississippi. Land along the Gulf Coast tends to be low and flat, and much of it is (or was) marshland. The western portions of the Gulf Coast are of barrier islands and peninsulas, including the 130 mile (210 km) Padre Island and Galveston Island. These landforms protect numerous bays and inlets. In the central part of the Gulf Coast, stretching from eastern Texas across Louisiana, marshland dominates.

Because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, areas on the Gulf Coast are vulnerable to hurricanes. Floods and severe thunderstorms also affect the region. Tornadoes are infrequent but do occur. Earthquakes are virtually unheard of.

Cities on the US Gulf Coast

• Brownsville, Texas
• Corpus Christi, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Galveston, Texas
• Beaumont, Texas
• Port Arthur, Texas
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
• Lafayette, Louisiana
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Gulfport, Mississippi
• Mobile, Alabama
• Pensacola, Florida
• Tallahassee, Florida
• Tampa, Florida

See also:

Geography of the United States