Saving Venice
Venice is one of the most iconic cities on the planet, its location driving its economic prosperity whilst leaving it vulnerable to floods. The first settlers drove wood piles into the lagoon's soft mud, making it strong enough to bear weight, a technique which supports the entire city. Samples from 1000-year-old piles show how the mud slows down the water's rotting of the wood, but increasingly frequent floods pose a new threat. Faced with losing their city to climate change, Venetians are turning to revolutionary engineering, restoration of the natural environment and knowledge from their past. Only by using multiple approaches can they hope to save Venice.