Venice: High Water 3 by sandra46
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Description
Exceptional tides statistically occur once every 4 years. They are caused by a combination of various factors, such as the astronomical tide, low pressure on the Tyrrhenian Sea, strong south wind (scirocco) and the Adriatic seiche. Further two larger phenomena also contribute to increase the water level: eustasy (that is the fluctuation of sea levels, caused by global climate change) and the subsidence ( slow, but progressive shift downwards of a sea basin or a continental area) of the Venetian Lagoon, which, together, have caused an altimetric loss of about 26 centimetres in the last century. The peaks reach their maximum in the Venetian Lagoon, where they cause partial flooding of Venice and Chioggia; flooding also occurs elsewhere around the northern Adriatic, for instance at Grado and Trieste, but much less often and to a lesser degree.
Both eustasy and subsidence have been occurring since the formation of the lagoon by the rivers' silt after the Ice Age. During Roman times there was the so-called Roman Emergence, that is a cycle of very low water, and many areas of the lagoon were dotted by villas and crops, that were submerged during the Middle Ages. Also the great Roman port on the Island of Lido (Beach), Malamocco, which was also the first capital of Venice, is now under water. According to local stories, one can see the belfry and hear the bells chime under water when the weather is fine.
Thanks for your kind comments.
Comments (38)
A_Sunbeam
Great photo - but I reckon their carpets will be ruined!
Richardphotos
outstanding photo and history
anahata.c
Another knockout image, Sandra. And I loved the explanations. Your last sentence, when I first read it, reminded me of Calvino's "Le città invisibili" (see? I know a few words of Italian!)---which I read in English, btw. But that scene of bells ringing underwater would be perfect for Calvino's collection. I really didn't know how these cycles effected the centers of this region. It's amazing to read. The photo is a big in-your-face feast of hues and forms, and it's gloriously messy---in the best sense---and gloriously abstract, and wonderfully folklorish. Almost fairy-tale-ish. You caught such wonderful play of texture---brick against smoother wall, for example---of big verticals with softer horizontals, the wonderful fissure lines in the lintels and stone everywhere, the broken fluting in the facade around the door, etc etc. A terrific shot of vitality and decay, all with saturated hues. And really strong water-presence. Also, the facade appears to be on a slight tilt, which fits the shot beautifully. You even---if I see this correctly---placed the peak of that big red post---the post in the water, about 1/3 of the way from the right frame---right inside a wreath BEHIND it: If I got that right, it's a terrific piece of "seeing" on your part. Another vivid capture of the loving confluences and decays of your beloved city, and a salsa for the eye. Love it. (Btw, speaking of Italian: I'm sure you know that, in the States, we have a number of Italian phrases that are wholly Americanized. So those of us whose only Italian consists of those phrases are always surprised to know how un-Italian they are to people from Italy. I studied Italian years ago, in order to read a number of literary works, but I never spoke it; and I can't read much of it now. I wish I could: There's so much I want to read in your language. "Pasta Fazool" just doesn't cut it when it comes to Montale or Petrarca...)
MagikUnicorn
Great shot...here in Canada its snow higher and higher lol :) -20c tonight !
dochtersions
How wonderful to see the photo, but it must have been horrible for the people there.
KarmaSong
A typical and most beautiful view of Venice, a city I promised myself to visit one day. Wonderful capture!
miwi
Beautiful capture,klasse info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KatesFriend
Fascinating narrative Sandra. I can see from the dynamics of the water why Venice is so threatened these days. But for all its foreboding it is still a very colourful and beautiful image.