A Brief History 

Venice – “the city of water” – came into existence in 421, when the Veneti, “expelled by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards” retreated to the marshlands in the mouth of the River Po (Civitats). In search of a place of refuge, the Veneti plunged long poles of wood into the seabed of the Venice Lagoon: a mass of mud submerged in saltwater. Across the heads of the poles, the Veneti laid layers of planking, finally placing stones on top to form the foundation of the city. With a powerful geographical positioning and influential navy, the city rose to significance throughout the Middle Ages through its ability to control trade between Europe and the Middle East (History Crunch). However, by the 15th century, Venice’s power as a maritime republic had suffered a decline, as Portugal replaced Venice as Europe’s principal trading body. But by the 18th century, Venice had positioned itself as a polestar for art and literature, boasting many buildings of architectural merit. Tourism is now the main source of income for Venice, with estimations that 14 million visitors travel to the city every year.  

A City Submerged in Water 

Tragically, the “city of water”, once known for its immense wealth and maritime power, has been subject to severe flooding over the centuries. A city bordered by islands with narrow channels open to the northern section of the Adriatic Sea, the rising water levels have become an unprecedented threat to the Venetians. But why has this city been the subject of severe flooding over hundreds of years? One cause begins in northern Africa: as hot air moves north from the Sahara Desert it pushes up into the Mediterranean Sea, where it mixes with the cooler ocean air. As these winds make their way up to the Adriatic Sea, the warmer winds combine with cooler winds from Eastern Europe. Working against the high tides, the winds prevent the water from leaving narrow channels, thus instigating flooding.  

But the issues don’t end there. The sea level surrounding Venice is estimated to be 20cm higher than it was a century ago, a problem associated with climate change. Built of mud and marsh, the city is estimated to be sinking by 1mm every year, due in part to the – now-forbidden – the practice of the pumping of water underneath the lagoon. In addition to this, the construction of ports along the mainland have replaced coastal landscapes, which traditionally were able to absorb a portion of the rising levels of water. Despite the planned construction of barriers in the narrow channels, the moving structures don’t prevent the flooding of key areas such as Saint Marco plaza. Unfortunately, the Venetian body of Marine scientists only expects the situation to worsen. (ABC)