A recent question asked by one of my readers was: is Venice sinking?
Venice is one of the most iconic cities in the world. Set on 118 small islands and divided by canals, unfortunately the city is easy prey to changes in sea level.
In fact, the rising sea level is a local phenomenon called ‘acqua alta’ which means high tide and is caused by a series of factors of natural and anthropic origins.
As global warming raises a cry of alarm all over the world, Venice might face a fatal destiny. So, is Venice really sinking and what does this mean for the city’s future?
I invite you to keep reading this post to find out if you really do need to hurry up and visit Venice ‘before it’s too late’, also, what’s happening in the fragile ecosystem of the Venetian lagoon, and how that can ultimately affect your next visit to Venice.
Is Venice Sinking?
Quick Answer: Yes, Venice is sinking. However, the global warming issue that is a mayor consequence of the rise in sea levels is not the only reason why.
Venice is sinking and in the last 130 years sea levels have risen by 30 cm, half of which is land subsidence and half is the increasing sea level rise since the 1890.
Why is Venice sinking?
So to answer your question (and the question of thousands of other who are thinking of visiting Venice), why is Venice sinking… well… there are many reasons why.
There are various different factors are causing the slow disappearance of this unique city, sadly also defined as the ‘Atlantis of the XXI century’ (the fictional island that sank somewhere in the ocean and disappeared in a distant past).
Natural factors of why Venice is sinking
- In the last century in Venice, the sea level has risen by almost 15 centimetres due to global warming, while the city has sunk by almost 20 centimetres. Seen from land, this has caused the average sea level to rise by more than 30 centimetres! The combination of these two phenomena (rise of sea levels and land subsidence) is deleterious for Venice now and it’s expected to get even worse in the near future.
- The massive increase in high tides frequency in the lagoon since 2010. As a consequence of global warming, the tropical equatorial circulation has expanded towards the north: the African anticyclones that were permanently in the Sahara desert now flood the Mediterranean from south to north and when they retreat, they carry currents from north to south. When there are currents from south to north (there are often Scirocco currents along the Adriatic), the wind pushes the water from the lower Adriatic towards the Venice lagoon.
Venice is sinking, but did you know that low tides also exist here? On February the 14th, 1934, the lowest tide ‘acqua bassa‘ was 121 cm below sea level. There has also been days where the gondolas in Venice had to stop working because of this.
Believe it or not, there is also a mix of man-made actions that, over the centuries, have had a negative impact on Venice and the Venetian lagoon.
Man made factors of why Venice is sinking
- Extraction of water from the aquifers of the Venice lagoon area;
- The creation of protective structures (started under the Austrian rule in Venice) for the inlets causes a greater current digging the canals;
- The diversion of rivers during the Serenissima Republic era caused a reduction in the supply of solid materials with a larger influx of destructive components instead of contributing to the lagoon formation;
- The big cruise ships have a disruptive impact on the lagoon morphology and biodiversity. The Italian government approved a decree law in 2021 to stop cruises to access the St. Mark’s basin and Venetian lagoon.
How much does Venice sink in a year?
The city is sinking on average by 1-2 millimetres per year.
Thanks to measurements conducted using GPS and satellite interferometry, the researchers have discovered that, but that’s not all.
The entire area of the lagoon is leaning towards east by 1 or 2 mm every year.
The causes are:
- The extractions of water from the subsoil that took place in the past, are in part responsible for the lowering of the city by 7 centimetres. They’ve been prohibited, but the effects persist.
- The Adriatic plate is sliding under the Apennines;
- The compression of sediments under the city.
When will Venice sink?
Experts believe that the sea level in the Venetian lagoon will rise by at least one metre and by 2100 Venice will sink if no adaptation is enforced.
At the moment, a system of mobile barriers called MoSE comes into action and prevents flooding every time it is needed.
Since the sea levels keep rising, new measures need to be implemented to protect the area of St. Mark’s Square and parts of the city of great historical artistic value.
Why is Venice sinking FAQ
Here are questions people ask when it comes to Venice sea rise levels:
Is Venice Sinking?
After reading this post, you should now have a much better idea of the reasons why Venice is sinking and some of the measures already in place to prevent its disappearance by the end of this century, as scientists and experts are predicting.
While you’re still here, why not read my post about how Venice was built if you want to dig deeper into Venice origins and learn more about the city’s foundations?
📌 Like this article? Click to Pin it…
If you found this Venice travel guide helpful, feel free to buy me a virtual coffee here.
“Dear traveller! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a tour booking or reserve a hotel, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot to me and helps me to keep creating and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
