Is Venice Sinking?
Venice, Italy is one of the world's most beautiful cities. It is a city that should be seen with a loved one, and if reports are true, it should be seen before it disappears completely into the surrounding waters. Is Venice really sinking into its waters, never to be seen again? Venice is sinking slowly, but as with most coastal towns and cities, the sea level is also rising.
Venice was built on marshlands, a sedimentary island within a lagoon off the coast of Italy. Attila the Hun invaded Italy in 452, forcing many inhabitants to flee to the coast. A small group of islands in the center of a lagoon were collectively called Rivo Alto, or "high bank." The area soon expanded, and Ri'Alto became the center of Venice.
Venice is a warren of canals. Where most cities have roads, Venice has canals. Gondolas and water taxis transport people to and from destinations. With water levels rising, flooding has become a serious problem and is contributing to Venice sinking. During the high tides in autumn and winter, the Piazza San Marco, the lowest area of the island, becomes totally flooded with water.
When the high tide season arrives, the streets of Venice become blocked with water. Wooden walkways must be erected in order for pedestrians to walk safely. The high water level is causing damage to Venice and disruption to its inhabitants. It has now reached the point at which city governors see the problem as critical.
Venice has always been slowly sinking. Over the last 1,000 years, it has sunk by around seven centimeters for every century, but recent reports have stated that in the last century alone, the city of Venice has lowered by around 24 centimeters. This may have more to do with global warming and the melting polar ice caps than with Venice sinking into its own foundations.
Global warming is an issue that is taken very seriously and is a major environmental concern for towns and cities that are coastal or built on islands. Reports have shown that the ice caps are melting at their fastest rate ever, and it is becoming a critical issue. Experts are seriously addressing the issue in order to find a solution to the problem.
The level to which Venice is sinking is now seen as critical. Many theories and concepts are being developed to stop Venice sinking. City leaders are now considering investing in huge steel gates to block the floods in order to stop Venice sinking. The cost of this project is estimated at around two or three billion euros, but will this enormous price tag be enough to stop Venice sinking?
Many experts say that this solution to stop Venice sinking can only be short term and will only help stem the floods for the next 20 or 30 years. A long-term solution must be found to stop Venice sinking that includes dealing with the causes of global warming. If not, Venice sinking into its own waters may be another chapter in world history.
Written by Garry Crystal
