Louisiana is a remarkably diverse land of prairies, hills, rivers, beaches, and bayous. Discovered by Spain in 1541, the land was claimed by France and named for Louis XIV in 1682. Afraid the land would fall into British hands during the French and Indian War, Louis XV (of France) handed it off to his cousin, Charles III (of Spain). It was during this time of Spanish rule that a number of French Canadians, driven from their home in Acadia by the British, fled south to settle in Louisiana. Their descendants are still called Acadians ("Cajuns"). Napoleon reacquired Louisiana for France in 1801, but the arrangement was kept secret until the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, when the land passed to the U.S.