New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area, (New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner) has a population of 1,189,981, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population of 1,360,436 as of 2000.
The city is divided into distinct sections namely; the French Quarter, the Convention Center, The Arts District, the Garden District and the Business District. There is something for tourists to do in each of these districts so you won't have any problems finding something to do. The city also lends itself to the tourist industry as its layout makes walking easy in comparison to some of its other US counterparts. You can get up close and intimate with this city so forget about your rental car for a while and get walking!
New Orleans also has several annual celebrations, the most popular of which is Carnival, often known as Mardi Gras. Carnival officially begins on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Twelfth Night. Mardi Gras which is French for Fat Tuesday is the final and grandest day of festivities and is the last Tuesday before the Catholic liturgical season of Lent, which commences on Ash Wednesday.
The largest of the city's many music festivals is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Commonly referred to simply as Jazz Fest, it is one of the largest music festivals in the nation, featuring crowds of people from all over the world, coming to experience music, food, arts, and crafts. Despite the name, it features not only jazz but a large variety of music, including both native Louisiana music and international artists.
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