Flood Proofing Cities

Venice: Problem
Venetian scenes like this one have become almost as representative of the city as its gondolas and elegant architecture. The ground on which Venice lies is famously sinking. This, combined with rising sea levels and periodic storms that cause the Adriatic Sea to flood Venice's lagoon, creates a phenomenon known as acqua alta, or high water—in other words, flooding. Venetians have dealt with the rising water for centuries by raising the level of floors in buildings and the pavement along city canals, but powerful storms can still prove destructive.