Venice is an Italian city that is recognized all over the world for many reasons. The city is regarded as an extraordinary city in the world but unfortunately, most of its residents are running away from it. This city is popularly known for many canals that cross it. However, several things have often been speculated about Venice and many people today would want to know whether there is some truth to it. One of those things is that there’s so much water in the city.
Acqua alta
That is true; there is so much water in Venice which can be a cause of concern. First and foremost, there’s something known as the acqua alta. This is the period of high waters. This situation usually occurs during autumn and winter. The main reason why this happens is because of the combined efforts of tidal waters and robust wind from the south.
This means that if you visit this place during the acqua alta, you risk a lot. If you have to, then you should choose a hotel in the upper part of the town. That should be close to the Piazzale Roma and the Railway station.
Floods
Venice will flood often. This was not a big issue many years ago. However, today the city experiences the worst floods. There are also many warnings about the effects of climate change in this place. Additionally, the sea level rise dominates the most media coverage which poses a greater risk to the lives of residents.
In this city, floods are not a bug but a feature. When the city was being constructed, it was founded by people that were fleeing enemies. The people thought that they were safe in the Lagoon where there were houses and armored men. There were also the impacts of the soggy ground which slowed the enemy and to some extent the tide would wash them out.
By this time, trade was the only way to earn a living. This shows that the people in Venice became rich and so they thought of building this city. Splendid churches and dazzling palaces dominated the city.
The merchants who funded the construction of the city didn’t bear in mind the effects of the flood. Their negligence is now showing in Venice because the city floods more often especially when the tides are high and when the wind is so strong. The wind pushes the waters up north. The good news is that all the buildings in the city are constructed to withstand the effects of the flood.
Additionally, the Po River south of Venice is an earthquake risky area that is still sinking. This all explains the reasons why Venice has a lot of water.
This has cost the city
Today, the population in Venice has almost halved because most Venetians moved out and their houses are now converted to restaurants, hotels and holiday homes.
Over time, the floods have even changed. The city would flood four times in the 1900s but today it floods more than 60 times a year. Recent news shows that the storms helped cover at least 70% of the city. The water rose to about 156 inches above the normal level.
Today there is a lot of research conducted, but the most recent from the National Research Center of Venice (CNR) shows that if this issue is not rectified at the right time, it will result in floods that can cause massive destructions 50 years from now. The company shows that the floods may occur with nearly every tide. As a matter of fact, there are some experts who argue this city will be gone by 2100. This is essentially the reason why many Venetians agree that this city will not be there for future generations to see and interact with.
The floods and land subsidence mean that the city is sinking. Climatic changes also greatly contribute to this issue. The climatic changes are causing the sea level to rise and that’s the main issue.
For this reason, the city is opting for many solutions including the 78 storm gates which are today known as MOSE. Many people are happy about this wonderful initiate but a few argue it can damage and change the ecological health of the city.
The Venice Lagoon has been managed by the Venetians since the 12th century and there are few changes that have been witnessed. The city has been built on 118 small islands that were drained and are still drained by a network of canals.
The major interventions have included the efforts to divert six major rivers away from the lagoon. This move was to ensure that the waterways are not filled with silt. The authorities have as well been rebuilding and extending the Murazzi. There are also some moves to reduce the inlets between the rivers and the original nine.
The real story
Maybe you don’t know the facts. This city was built on a mountain top. There were several interventions that took place with most of them marked as unhelpful and others have turned out to be dangerous. Later in the years, one part of the village slipped gradually into the waters and now is submerged. The other part remained on the mountain and was known as Cortina d’Ampezzo. This is the main reason why the Venetians have chosen this place as their second home.
The majority of these people consider the city as their farm which still rests in the mountain. The land has gradually changed to a mountain chalet. With that in mind, it’s very easy to deduce that Venice is the old ruler of the Adriatic Sea.
How do buildings in Venice manage to stand despite the fact that they are surrounded by water?
The buildings in this place are built on wooden piles. The same concept underlies the buildings in New Orleans. With the available data, it’s very easy to notice that the Italian mainland is splitting apart from Slovenia and Croatia.
