Much of the city of New Orleans is below sea level, yet it was not an ocean when the city was first settled. How did it get below sea level?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The drainage canals and groundwater withdrawal in the area have caused subsidence, which has dropped the land below sea level. The removal of water from beneath the ground has caused the land to sink and has made New Orleans more susceptible to flooding.

Much of the City of New Orleans Is Below Sea