Venice, Italy, is well-known throughout the world for the canals that carve through the city. The winding waterways
provide a breathtaking backdrop for Venice's amazing architecture.
But the water that makes Venice famous is also its curse. During some high tides, the nearby Adriatic Sea laps
dangerously at the city, flooding historic landmarks such as St. Mark's Square.
Built on a series of islands, Venice is slowly sinking into the sea, dropping about 1.57 inches a year. By the end of the
century, scientists warn, the city could be completely submerged.
Now engineers have come up with a new plan to keep the famous city afloat-adding more water.
Fighting Water With Water
Water may seem like the last thing Venice needs, but Giuseppe Gambolati says the plan could be instrumental in
stopping the city from drowning. Gambolati, a professor at the University of Padua, is leading the project.
In fact, Gambolati says, the plan could actually raise Venice by 1 foot-the same amount the city has dropped over
the past 300 years.
Gambolati and his team of engineers and geology experts hope to pump seawater more than 2,000 feet underneath
the city. The seawater would expand the sand under Venice, eventually lifting the top layer of soil, they say.
"If the [test] project proves successful, we will see an immediate benefit, even though [it will be] gradual," Gambolati
told the Associated Press. He estimates that "the complete elevation will be achieved in around 10 years."
A Sinking Feeling
Some people think Gambolati's idea doesn't hold water. Michele Jamiolkowski, an engineering professor at Turin
Polytechnic University, says Gambolati's plan is unrealistic. "We are really in the area of science fiction," he says
about the plan. He warns that it would cost millions of dollars and might raise the city only a few inches.
Other people worry that the seawater could cause parts of the city to rise higher than other areas, damaging priceless
buildings. "Venice is in a delicate situation," says Giovanni Mazzacurati, the president of the New Venice Consortium.
"Should parts of [the city] be elevated in a different way, this would cause the city to crumble."
Despite the risks, everyone agrees that saving the sinking city is imperative. "If we let Venice fall into the sea, the
world would lose a tremendous part of [history]," says Melissa Conn of Save Venice, a group dedicated to helping
preserve the city.
Stemming the Tide
Seawater isn't Venice's only hope. City officials are already hard at work on another rescue plan: building giant
floodgates to protect the city.
The plan is called MOSE, after Moses, the biblical figure who called upon God to part the Red Sea. It calls for hinged
gates to be built in the lagoon just off Venice. The hollow steel panels would lie flat on the lagoon floor during normal
weather. They would swing up to form a protective wall during dangerously high tides.
Officials expect the $5.2 billion project to be completed in the few years.
The aim is to protect the city from flooding and high tides, which have become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. The floodgates would create a barrier against rising waters, preventing damage to historic buildings and landmarks.
Experts believe that a combination of the MOSE project and Gambolati's plan to elevate Venice with seawater could help save the sinking city. By taking action now, they hope to preserve Venice for future generations to enjoy. Only time will tell if these ambitious plans are successful in stemming the tide and saving this iconic city.
Venice is _____________ of the Adriatic Sea.(1 point)
Responses
northeast
northeast
southwest
southwest
northwest
northwest
southeast
southeast
Question 2
In the sentence, “The winding waterways provide a breathtaking backdrop for Venice's amazing architecture,” the following is a fact:(1 point)
Responses
the architecture is amazing.
the architecture is amazing.
the waterways are winding.
the waterways are winding.
the backdrop is breathtaking.
the backdrop is breathtaking.
none of the above.
none of the above.
Question 3
The following is an opinion:(1 point)
Responses
Gambolti thinks adding more water will save Venice from sinking.
Gambolti thinks adding more water will save Venice from sinking.
This plan is unrealistic.
This plan is unrealistic.
People are worried that water will damage the buildings.
People are worried that water will damage the buildings.
All of the above.
southeast
the waterways are winding
This plan is unrealistic