Venice, a city known for its unique canals and historic architecture, has been struggling for centuries with the problem of rising water levels, a phenomenon known as Acqua Alta. In the 21st century, this phenomenon has intensified, posing a serious threat to the city, its inhabitants and its world cultural heritage. The MOSE project, an innovative system of floating dams designed to protect the city from flooding, was created in response to this problem. Since its inauguration in 2020, MOSE is one of the most technologically advanced engineering structures in the world.
Genesis of the MOSE project
The MOSE (MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project takes its name from Moses (Italian: Mosé), the biblical figure who saved his people by leading them through the waters of the Red Sea. In Venice, the MOSE has an equally symbolic meaning – it protects the city and its inhabitants from the deluge of waters that in the past caused serious damage. The first plans to build the dams date back to the 1980s, when experts began looking for solutions to protect Venice from erosion and rising sea levels. After many years of discussion, the decision was made in 2002 to go ahead with the project, which began in 2003 and was completed in 2020.
Flooded Venice, 1966 Source: http://meteoteam.blogspot.it/2012/11/4-novembre-1966-alluvione-venezia-e.html
Design and principle of operation
The MOSE consists of 78 movable dams, distributed in the three main mouths of the lagoon: the Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia. Each of these dams is equipped with movable sluices that normally remain submerged under water. When the water level exceeds the critical threshold of 110 cm, the system triggers a process of emptying the elements of water and filling them with air – based on the action of Archimedes’ law. This causes them to float above the surface, creating a barrier that prevents further sea level rise and flooding of the city.
The entire process of raising the locks takes about 30 minutes, and lowering them once the tide is out takes another 15 minutes. To maintain the continuity of sea traffic, there are special navigation channels in the dams that allow smaller vessels to pass through, even when the dikes are raised.
The significance of the MOSE for Venice
The MOSE project was created to protect Venice from dramatic floods such as the one in November 1966, when the water reached a record level of 194 cm, causing serious property damage and forcing many Venetians to leave the city. Since its launch, MOSE has proven its effectiveness, including during the 2020 floods, when it saved the city from flooding for the first time ever.
Thanks to this remarkable construction, daily life in Venice has become less dependent on unpredictable weather events. The city’s most important monuments, such as St Mark’s Square, which had previously been regularly flooded, are protected.
Controversies and challenges
Despite its impressive engineering success, the MOSE project has also attracted controversy, both ecologically and politically. The main criticism concerns the impact of the dams on the delicate lagoon ecosystem. The tide-stopping sluices may disrupt the natural circulation of the sea water, negatively affecting the local fauna and flora. Environmentalists fear that long-term use of the barriers could lead to biodiversity degradation and sedimentation of the lagoon.
In 2014, the MOSE project was also the subject of a corruption scandal when the then mayor of Venice, Giorgio Orsoni, was arrested on suspicion of misappropriating funds. Predictably, much of the money that was supposed to be allocated to the project ended up in private pockets, sparking a wave of outrage and slowing down the implementation of MOSE.
Another challenge is the huge cost of maintaining the system. Constant monitoring of the condition of the dams and regular maintenance is needed to ensure full effectiveness. Experts point out that some parts of the structure are rusting, raising concerns about the longevity of the system.
The future of MOSE and Venice
MOSE is a technological triumph that, for the moment, effectively protects Venice from Acqua Alta. However, as experts warn, it is not a long-term solution. Climate change projections indicate that by 2100, water levels could rise to levels that MOSE will not be able to cope with. Already, UNESCO is considering listing Venice as a heritage at risk, which only underlines the scale of the problem.
The MOSE project is an important step towards protecting the city, but Venice still faces the challenge of finding more sustainable solutions for its architecture and ecosystem to survive in the face of global climate change.
Source: bonjourvenise.fr, mosevenezia.eu
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