^ I'm not sure what you mean re: the Nashville comment? Was it in reference to the amount of towers/changes or the traffic? Nashville actually feels bigger to me perhaps because it has the large network of interstates that criss-cross the city.
Seriously though, your resident douche aside, that really is a very beautiful shot of a very beautiful city with a very beautiful skyline... it's exciting seeing all the changes taking place in Austin and I can't wait to visit again!
__________________ "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds."
That photo doesn't even include the Rainey St. District (which will be the main area of the 2020s for high-rise development) or the residential area just west of the Independent as seen here:
The Colorado River flows through Austin. There are several dams and spillways creating lakes that pass through Austin. The lake located downtown was formerly known as Town Lake. It was re-named Lady Bird Lake after Lady Bird Johnson died several years ago. I still call it Town Lake, as do many others. Anyway, water is kept at a constant level in this lake and also in Lake Austin, which is just upstream. Both lakes can produce minor flooding, especially Lake Austin, but usually water is released downstream to prevent major flooding. It is a complicated process controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority, but there has not been a major flood on these lakes in recent times. One creek (Shoal Creek), which feeds into Town Lake, can and does flash flood on a fairly regular basis, resulting in high water in some businesses on the west end of downtown along Lamar Blvd.