Swamps in Avery Island Louisiana

Louisiana's swamp lands hold a special place in Louisiana culture. These marshlands are an extremely important ecosystem within the land and Cajun and Native American Indians have been living in harmony with these lands for centuries. From the lurking alligators to pristine lakes that wind through the state, you'll discover how special these swamps are to Louisiana. Take a guided swamp tour to see alligators, kayak through bayous and rivers or find that perfect cajun restaurant in between marshes to sample the local fare.

The birthplace of TABASCO® brand pepper sauce, Avery Island has been owned for over 180 years by the interrelated Marsh, Avery and McIlhenny families. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or Spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five "islands" rising above south Louisiana’s flat coastal marshes.

The island occupies roughly 2,200 acres and sits atop a deposit of solid rock salt thought to be deeper than Mount Everest is high. Geologists believe this deposit is the remnant of a buried ancient seabed, pushed to the surface by the sheer weight of surrounding alluvial sediments.

Today, Avery Island remains the home of the TABASCO® brand pepper sauce factory, as well as Jungle Gardens and its Bird City wildfowl refuge. The Tabasco factory and the gardens are open to the public. For tourism information, visit www.TABASCO.com or call 337-365-8173.