Flooding is nothing new in Italy, nor in Venice. Global warming, while real, is not to blame in this case.
Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.
In 1604, to defray the cost of flood relief Venice introduced what could be considered the first example of what became elsewhere a 'stamp tax'.
During the 20th century, when many artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to subside. It has caused an overall altimetrical reduction in the level of Venice soil with respect to sea level of over 22 cm since 1908.
It's a damn shame though. I wish those beauracratic morons who are the italian officials, would just do the damned work to fix the problem. Most have been talking about it for hundreds of years and every time they cite the costs involved. However, in the long view of things, it is always cheaper to fix the problem than to constantly repair the damage.
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Flooding is nothing new in Italy, nor in Venice. Global warming, while real, is not to blame in this case.
Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.
In 1604, to defray the cost of flood relief Venice introduced what could be considered the first example of what became elsewhere a 'stamp tax'.
During the 20th century, when many artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to subside. It has caused an overall altimetrical reduction in the level of Venice soil with respect to sea level of over 22 cm since 1908.
It's a damn shame though. I wish those beauracratic morons who are the italian officials, would just do the damned work to fix the problem. Most have been talking about it for hundreds of years and every time they cite the costs involved. However, in the long view of things, it is always cheaper to fix the problem than to constantly repair the damage.
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