New Orleans ( , locally /ˌnuːˈɔːlɛnz/; French: La Nouvelle-Orléans ) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana.

New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana along both the east and westbanks of the Mississippi River. The city is bordered by Lake Pontchartrain. It is coextensive with Orleans Parish meaning that the boundaries of the city and the parish are the same. Although the city is nearly 70 miles upriver from the Mississippi River Delta, the shape of the Louisiana coastline is so that Orleans Parish borders on the waters of Lake Borgne to its 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. New Orleans is known for its multicultural heritage as well as its music and cuisine and is considered the birthplace of jazz.

Its status as a world-famous tourist destination is due in part to its architecture, music, cuisine, its annual Mardi Gras, and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as "The most unique city in America". Institute of New Orleans History and Culture at Gwynedd-Mercy College Behind the Scenes: Hurricane on the Bayou New Orleans: A Choice Between Destruction and Reparations, by David Billings, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, November/December 2005 Bring New Orleans Back Spike Lee offers his take on Hurricane Katrina, by Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press, July 14 2006