While Miami does not have a traditional "subway" (an entirely underground heavy rail system), it does have the Metrorail, which is an elevated rapid transit system. The primary reason Miami lacks extensive underground tunnels is the city's geology and high water table. Miami sits on a base of porous Biscayne Aquifer limestone, and much of the city is only a few feet above sea level. Digging underground in Miami is incredibly expensive and technically challenging because tunnels would constantly flood, requiring massive, continuous pumping systems to stay dry. Furthermore, the risk of "saltwater intrusion" and the instability of the soft limestone make deep excavation hazardous for the structures above. Instead, Miami opted for an elevated system to avoid these subterranean challenges. Additionally, the city's suburban sprawl and historical reliance on car culture meant that high-density, tunnel-based transit was not a priority during the mid-20th-century boom years. Today, the focus has shifted to expanding the elevated Metrorail and the Metromover rather than attempting to build a subterranean subway network.