For Venice, adaptation to the demands of the modern world is often a painful process. While the era of vast refining and petrochemical development along the lagoon shore may be over, its damage to Venice is visual, and environmental terms has been immense. In November 1966, Venice was hit by the worst floods in its history, sparking worldwide concern for the city’s
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delicate and decaying fabric. The deepening of channels in 20
century, the over-extraction of
fresh water mainland aquifers, and the geologic sinking of the Po River basin have all combined
to lower the land level, adding to Venice’s flooding problem. The need to protect the lagoon is not
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new. In the 15 and 16 centuries, the Venetian ministry for water matters was already diverting
rivers from the lagoon and passing laws to safeguard the urban environment.