The Sinking Issue

• by George Bailey • Published: March 27, 2007

The city of Venice remains in a state of alert in regard to its being overtaken by waters from the Adriatic. However, new developments in engineering bode well. The foundations of the buildings of Venice are elevated by wood piles beneath them. These wood piles have withstood centuries of submersion since wood does not decay under water as long as it remains unexposed to oxygen. During the Renaissance, Venetians actually used the lagoon as means of defense. By diverting the rivers that feed the lagoon, and in turn preventing the transport of new sediment, they were able to deepen the lagoon and dissuade intruders. Artesian wells, used in the twentieth century for industry, are largely responsible for the crisis. Though artesian wells have been outlawed, the city still faces frequent flooding. The ground floors of many buildings have become uninhabitable. Though rumors circulate stipulating that the city is no longer sinking, resolutions such as the MOSE project remain functional. The MOSE project consists in the design of inflatable pontoons that shall be placed across the sea bed at the entrances to the lagoon. At high tides the pontoons will inflate and obstruct the flow of water from the Adriatic into the Venetian lagoon. This project has announced a deadline in 2011.