New Orleans, Port city in Louisiana, United States
New Orleans is a city in Louisiana, United States, positioned along the Mississippi River near Lake Pontchartrain, with many areas sitting at or below sea level and protected by levees. The city spreads into different districts, including the French Quarter with narrow streets and two-story buildings, and the Garden District with wide avenues lined by oak trees.
The settlement started in 1718 as a French outpost and grew into a major port connecting the Mississippi valley to the Gulf of Mexico. Control changed from France to Spain and finally to the United States following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Neighborhoods celebrate traditions with second line parades led by brass bands, where people join the procession through the streets. Food markets and corner shops sell ingredients for gumbo and jambalaya, and locals gather on front porches to talk and watch the day unfold.
The St. Charles streetcar line runs through the main neighborhoods and provides an easy way to move around without a car. Visitors should plan for warm weather most of the year, wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven sidewalks, and drink water regularly in the heat and humidity.
Cemeteries display rows of aboveground tombs because of the high water table, with stone vaults stacked like small houses. Many families reuse these tombs over generations, placing new remains inside the same structure after a waiting period.
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