Most Alligator Filled Rivers in Louisiana – The Top 6

(KMDL-FM) If you've ever encountered an alligator in the wild, it's an experience you don't forget. While you marvel at the majesty of this living dinosaur, your mind can't help but realize that this creature can literally eat you and would have no remorseful second thoughts after doing so.

Why Are Alligators So Important to Louisiana's Economy?

black and red leather shoe

Still, Louisiana has managed to base and build an entire economy on alligator trapping, tourism, and pelts that can be made into incredibly fashionable pieces that stand the test of time.

If you're visiting Louisiana, it's almost a law: you have to go see alligators. The good news is you don't have to look too hard to find them. The creatures thrive in swampy, murky, marshy waters, which is one of two things Louisiana has an abundance of; the other is political irregularities.

READ MORE: See the Pictures - Country Star Jason Aldean's Louisiana 'Gator Hunt

Two of the easiest places to have an alligator encounter in a civilized setting are on campus at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There is actually a Cypress Swamp on campus with actual alligators that inhabit that environment. You can sit outside the student union and watch them, because Lord knows, they are watching you.

Want to Hold a Baby Alligator? Here's Where You Can Do That

black and white crocodile in water

The other place for an easy alligator encounter is in Jennings, Louisiana, at the I-10 Rest Area. The Gator Chateau allows kids of all ages to actually touch and hold smaller alligators. You can step outside to see the larger ones if you want to.

READ MORE: Is It Illegal to Feed Alligators in Louisiana? 

And if you want to have an alligator experience in a wilder setting, here are our top six choices for doing just that.