Drowning New Orleans

Scientific American - October 2001
By Mark Fischetti

Oh.My.God.

The problem has been germinating in the 120 years since they started "taming" the Mississippi.

Like Florida's Sink Holes caused by drawing water out of the ground for normal use, southern Louisiana is sinking because when they pump out the water that ends up in the city they are pumping out the water that is holding the city up. As the muck below the city loses water, the city settles even lower below sea level. Now that the Missisppi River level stands 30 feet above the lowest level of the city there aren't any good options.

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