This section contains 314 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
Natural Threats to New Orleans
Summary: An overview of the problems faced by the city of New Orleans that leave it vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural disasters. These include New Orleans' location and elevation, the ability of levees to keep water out of the city, and coastal erosion.
After researching about New Orleans, I have found out that it is very vulnerable to hurricanes. There are multiple threats New Orleans faces that makes it more at risk to hurricanes.
The main problem is its position and it's elevation. Rising sea levels and sinking land have made it so that the city lies on average 6 feet below sea level. The only thing that is keeping the water out is levies built all around New Orleans. It is also bordered by lake Pontchartrain on the north and the Mississippi river on the south. These can be very dangerous if they flood. Lake Pontchartrain is only twenty-five feet deep and is very prone to flooding. A hurricane could also drive water from these places and cause flooding. New Orleans is also just under 5 degrees north of the tropic of cancer so hurricanes form easily in the warm waters surrounding...
This section contains 314 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |