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 city of New Orleans is currently below sea level due to the land subsidence caused by drainage canals and groundwater withdrawal. The city was built on wetlands and swamps, and to create space for development, canals were dug to drain the water. As more water was drained, the land began to sink and settle, eventually dropping below sea level. This was exacerbated by the extraction of groundwater for drinking and industrial purposes.

Much of the City of New Orleans Is Below Sea