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New Orleans (pronounced /nʲuːˈɔrliənz, nʲuːˈɔrlənz/ ; French: La Nouvelle-Orléans ) is a major United States port city. From its founding until Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, New Orleans was the largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, but because of the large number of residents who have left due to Katrina, Baton Rouge is currently slightly more populous. New Orleans is the center of the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area, which remains the largest metro area in the state.
New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River. It is coextensive with Orleans Parish , meaning that the boundaries of the city and the parish are the same. It is bounded by the parishes of St. Tammany (north), St. Bernard (east), Plaquemines (south), and Jefferson (south and west). Lake Pontchartrain, part of which is included in the city limits, lies to the north, and Lake Borgne lies to the east.
The city is named after Philippe II, Duc d'Orléans, Regent of France, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It is well known for its multicultural and multilingual heritage, cuisine, architecture, music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz), and its annual Mardi Gras and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as the "most unique" city in America.