Environment
Venice’s Canals Are The Cleanest They’ve Been In Living Memory After Lockdown
Lack of boat rides has allowed the sediments to settle at the bottom!
Venetian canals are dubbed the clearest they have been in living memory, following Italy’s order to stop the movement of boats as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
In an uncommon welcoming side-effect of the health crisis, the normally muddy waters are clear enough to see the fishes under the water.
Venetian canals are dubbed the clearest they have been in living memory, following Italy’s order to stop the movement of boats as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic
White swans wander the canals in a city where the normally crowded piazzas and alleyways have become almost empty, although air quality has decreased in northern Italy, too.
With no visitors taking gondola trips around the canals, the sediment in the water was able to settle down without churning around-making the surface smoother.
A local Venetian, Marco Capovilla, said after filming some of the fishes under the surface, he had never seen ‘ the water so clear.
‘The water currently looks clearer because there’s less traffic on the canals. The sediments are staying at the bottom and it’s because there’s less boat traffic. The air is less polluted since there are also fewer vaporetti than usual because of the restricted movement.’ A spokesman for the Venice mayor’s office revealed.
Capovilla, 40, described the stunning clarity of the water in contrast to the usually dirty canals, which he recorded during the lockdown.
He added: ‘Everything goes into the canals, including cosmetics and detergents since the city doesn’t have sewers. A big thanks to the quarantine, we are witnessing a clean environment.’
Also speaking, Martina Bettoni, 33, a bank worker said seeing so many fishes in the canals was extremely scarce before the restrictions. ‘I hope we all will learn from the period and that when this is finally over, Venice will be able to strike a balance between cleanliness and visitors crowds.’ Martina said.
Nevertheless, Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world which attracts more than a million visitors from China alone.
