Can Venice be saved without killing the lagoon? | Focus on Europe

Venice has fascinated the world for over 1600 years and for just as long people have been scared of floods or worried that the city could sink into the sea this is the latest attempt to protect Venice 78 metal barriers that can be raised to separate the sea from

The Lagoon the system is called MOS if we hadn’t had MOS Venice would have been irreparably destroyed on November 22nd 2022 it was the second highest flood in history but nothing happened we were able to protect the Lagoon and Venice elizabetha Spitz has already given the order to raise the barriers over 50

Times and she’s having to do it increasingly frequently we now know that Moos is a flexible instrument that does not always have to be opened nor at the same time today we know much more about floods and winds so we’re in a position to act against flooding to use the mosa

System only partially and to guarantee the exchange of water between the Sea and the Lagoon does that mean Venice can be saved climate experts predict that the sea level could Rise by 6 CM by the end of the century the oceanographer gor omiza says that moza is just buying

Time is moza enough to save Venice yes at the moment definitely in the next 10 20 or 30 years but if the sea level rises by 50 cm it will have to be used 300 to 400 times that’s once a day it won’t manage mosa won’t be able to cope as a stru

But nor will the lagon manage because it needs the exchange of water Marini from the Venice Institute of Marine Sciences is researching the Lagoon’s ecosystem he says the frequency with which mosa is being used has not yet had any major consequences but this could change if the Lagoon is separated

From the sea more frequently and for longer periods of time it could be that at some point we’ll have to decide whether it makes sense to maintain the Lagoon as a saltwater Lagoon or not the long closures interrupt the cycle between the Sea and the Lagoon which is fundamental for

Venice it’s what creates the Lagoon floor which determines what plants and animals can live there we’re going to face tough decisions whether to save the Lagoon or the city venetians would ideally keep both Patza San Marco is the lowest point of Venice and the first to flood work is currently underway to

Raise the square if it were raised to 110 CM then the square would no longer be underwater because it would manage up to 110 CM without flooding and at over 110 CM the mosa system would close so another Ward there will be no more flooding on Pia San

Marco he believes we need to have faith that people often forget that Venice has sunk 30 cm in the past 150 years too much groundwater has been pumped from the city’s aquifers but groundwater could also help save the city from disaster if the water that’s been pumped

Out is pumped back in then Venice could Rise by 30 cm again that would be the exact 30 cm that we’ve lost in the past 150 years so we would be going back starting at zero again so to speak he says that Venice as we know it

Cannot last forever in any case at some point the Lagoon will have to be separated from the sea and that venetians will be forced to decide both cannot be rescued we have to decide what to save Venice there is only one Venice a difficult decision one venetians hope they will never have to

Make

Venice has fascinated the world for over 1600 years. And for just as long, people have been scared of floods or worried that the city could sink into the sea. The latest attempt to protect Venice consists of 78 metal barriers that can be raised to separate the sea from the lagoon. The system is called MOSE. The flood barriers are working, but using them could put the surrounding lagoon is at risk.

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#Venice #Floods #Lagoon

30 comments

  2. An ecosystem will ALWAYS be more important than a city. Even one as beautiful and historical as Venice. If both can be done together, then great. If not…planet first. Always.

  5. If Venice crumbles the pope will just say it’s “gods will” just like when people who believe in a higher power or god respond when 1 of their own harms others, doesn’t seem like much of a god if that’s what your followers are engaged in perpetrating! Also can’t evangelism as required by several denominations of Christianity and other ideologies be done by search engine the individual uses so groups of people trying to impose belief can give it a rest!

  7. I was in Venice during heavy rains and St.Marco was covered with water. Water was everywhere. People were eating in restaurant and caffe shops with the legs in water.

  14. Venice is built in the Po delta, and deltas are always sinking. Simply the sediments of the river put down there push the crust down. Noone can do anything about it.

  15. Find a way to turn sea water into fresh water. So places like africa, the Caribbean, South asia, latin america can fresh water to drink. Turn the sea water into fresh water for farmers around the water.

  16. I wish we worried about plastic getting dumped everywhere more than this but big business loves plastic to much to let some governments regulate it

  17. It’s not that simple. Once you remove too much groundwater, the soil compacts and then no longer absorbs groundwater.

  18. can venice amsterdam barcelona athens survive without tourism or the crush of mass tourism? given that non europeans are banned from europe starting may 2025 by etias subject to date change all of europe has to drastically modify its economy away from hotels and souvenir stores and other tourist oriented industries

  21. Went to Venice in 2011 and i really just wish I'd gone somewhere else. Overcrowded, expensive and there honestly is more to see in other parts of Italy.

  23. didnt like their ancestors used to just built on top of existing structures to beat the rising tides? they just need to do that again lol

  26. How refreshing to see a public discussion of a major problem without all of the crying, screaming, swearing, and just general bad acting that seems to be the way even things like a torn fingernail are described in the media today. Well done!

  27. I think when the climate cooling down, the city will not have floods frequently, or they can build up some Dijk at the edge of the city for the short time defenses, there might be some other regions don’t want their mountains or old buildings.

  28. I like there's no mention of the oil tankers and cruise ships that had forced to expand the access from the sea that is one of the main reasons for this problem.

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