Dried up canal in Venice. Taken by Marco Sabadin, AFP via Getty Images.
Dried up canal in Venice. Taken by Marco Sabadin, AFP via Getty Images.

Venice, Italy’s most picturesque city, is renowned for its beautiful canals. With over 170 canals throughout the city, tourists flock there to experience the unique transportation system that exists in place of traditional streets. Venice is set on an archipelago of islands within the Venetian Lagoon and has a population of around 250,000 people. However, the drying up of the canals would have significant consequences for the city’s tourism industry and the overall economy. Venice’s charm and character, which attract millions of visitors every year, would be lost without the picturesque canals. Additionally, the absence of water in the canals could have severe consequences for the local ecosystem.

Scientists have reported that the iconic canals of Italy have been impacted by climate change in the past month. According to the latest consensus, high pressure weather systems in the area, as well as the nearby Alps, have been affected by climate change, resulting in reduced snowmelt and decreased water flow to Venice during summer. The higher temperatures have left the canals in a state of stagnation, making them difficult to navigate. This situation has persisted for several weeks, but there are weather predictions for some temporary relief in the next week or so.

The Venetian islands are particularly vulnerable to flooding, as they are situated downstream from the melting snowfall of the Alps to their northwest. Although flooding has been a recurring issue in the past, recent data reveals a stark increase in high flooding events due to the effects of global warming. In the past decade, the number of high flooding events has dropped from 40 to just 2, underscoring the severity of the impact of climate change. This has resulted in significant temperature fluctuations in recent years, with a 61% decrease in snowfall in the Alps this year alone. Despite being the highest mountain range in the world, the Alps have also fallen victim to the warming of the climate.

  The city of Venice is currently facing a challenging situation brought about by an unprecedented drought that has persisted for the past two weeks. The dramatic decrease in water levels has resulted in a significant decline in tourism, and there are also concerns over the potential structural damage to the canals. Given that the waterways are the main mode of transportation in the city, it is essential for gondolas, water taxis, and ambulances to navigate them. The officials of Venice find themselves in a difficult position, as this situation is the opposite of their usual problem of overflooding. This “never-ending” drought poses a considerable challenge for the city’s administration, which is working tirelessly to address this issue.

Fortunately, the forecasted rain in the coming days is expected to alleviate Venice’s current drought, which is unusual for the city. Despite its typically humid climate, Venice is currently facing its first drought in 70 years.

Works Cited

Fine, Camille. “’Never-Ending Drought Emergency’: Italy’s Iconic Venice Canals Have Dried Up.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/02/22/dry-venice-canals-italian-drought/11321656002/.

Legambiente. “Allarme Siccità #Emergenzamaifinita • Legambiente.” Legambiente, 28 Feb. 2023, https://www-legambiente-it.translate.goog/comunicati-stampa/allarme-siccita-emergenzamaifinita/?_x_tr_sl=fi&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp.