Venice Rising

Pessimists notwithstanding, not all disasters are irreversible. For almost a decade, the world had known that Venice was slowly, inexorably sinking into the sea. Now, after three years of meticulous measurements, Italian scientists affirm that Venice has achieved a major victory: the islands on which the city stands have stopped sinking into their huge lagoon on the Adriatic. In fact, says Ottavio Vittori, head of the Venice National Research Center, Venice actually appears to be rising at the minuscule rate of a millimeter or so in five years.

The reversal is the result of a ten-year campaign to cap the thousands of artesian wells in the city and its outskirts. Italians are constructing a new aqueduct to tap inland rivers. Meanwhile the underground "cushion" of water on which Venice floats has built up again. Explains a buoyant Vittori: "The balance of supply and demand is being restored by natural processes."

Still, contributors to "Save Venice" and other organizations dedicated to preserving the city need not expect refunds. Little progress has been made so far in taming the periodic flood tides that deface Venice's priceless artworks and architecture. The tides still roar into the Piazza San Marco every few months, forcing Venetians to get out the gang-planks, stack up the tables at the sidewalk cafes and watch a little more of their city wash away.

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