DIYbanter - View Single Post - (OT) About New Orleans being built below sea level

SeaNymph

On 4/9/2016 8:10 AM, wrote:
I was just watching a program on tv about New Orleans, which showed a
lot about the buildings, culture, and other stuff. They briefly showed
how it's built below sea level (which I knew), but I was never there and
did not know how much was built there and how some of those buildings
are very historic and intricate, such as the cathedral. This left me
with one big question.

How did they ever begin to build this city when it was under water? And
WHY would anyone even consider doing such a thing? I can only presume
that it began when (due to some dry spell), the water level was lower
than usual. (just a guess). It dont make much sense to build levees with
the intention to build a city.

Maybe someone on here lives there or knows more about it.

Well, I don't know the answer, but I lived in Texas in a place that was
largely below sea level. My parents built a house in the highest point
and that was a whopping 17 feet above sea level. It's not that high any
more though. They built lots of dikes, channels and ultimately a
fantastic system to keep the place from flooding during hurricanes.