<P> In 2017, Houston hosted Super Bowl LI . This is the third Super Bowl for the city, with the previous games being held in 1974 and 2004 . </P> <P> In late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused severe flooding in the Houston area, with some areas receiving over 50 inches (1,300 mm) of rain . Winds reached up to 145 miles per hour, and rainfall exceeded 50 inches in several areas locally, breaking the national record for rainfall . The total estimated damage from the flash floods is estimated at up to $75 billion U.S. dollars, and it is considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States, with the death toll exceeding 70 people . </P> <P> Houston is located 165 miles (266 km) east of Austin, 112 miles (180 km) west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles (400 km) south of Dallas . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km); this comprises 634.0 square miles (1,642 km) of land and 22.3 square miles (58 km) covered by water . The Piney Woods are north of Houston . Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest . Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie which resembles the Deep South, and are all still visible in surrounding areas . The flatness of the local terrain, when combined with urban sprawl, has made flooding a recurring problem for the city . Downtown stands about 50 feet (15 m) above sea level, and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet (38 m) in elevation . The city once relied on groundwater for its needs, but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground - level water sources such as Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, and Lake Livingston . The city owns surface water rights for 1.20 billion gallons of water a day in addition to 150 million gallons a day of groundwater . </P> <P> Houston has four major bayous passing through the city that accept water from the extensive drainage system . Buffalo Bayou runs through downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, and has three tributaries: White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Houston Heights community northwest of Downtown and then towards Downtown; Brays Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center; and Sims Bayou, which runs through the south of Houston and downtown Houston . The ship channel continues past Galveston and then into the Gulf of Mexico . </P>

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