Human settlement of the Lower Mississippi River Valley especially in New Orleans, the region s largest metropolis has produced profound and dramatic environmental change. From prehistoric midden building to late-twentieth century industrial pollution, "Transforming New Orleans and Its Environs"traces through history the impact of human activity upon the environment of this fascinating and unpredictable region.

In eleven essays, scholars across disciplines including anthropology, architecture, history, natural history, and geography chronicle how societies have worked to transform untamed...