by Marcus Maurice
A new project aims to stop the flooding that has plagued Venice for decades.
一項新的計畫將讓威尼斯與困擾她數十年的水患說 bye bye。
On a
windy day in November of 1966, Venice, Italy
suffered the worst flooding in its history up until that time. Usually following the natural
ebb and flow of water, the tide should go out to sea in the morning. _(1)_
Eventually, the tide reached 194 centimeters above normal levels, which was the highest ever recorded in Venice. The entire city was
swamped, and beaches and
seawalls were
devastated. _(2)_ Therefore, the government decided to
intervene. The result of this is the MOSE project, which
consists of mobile gates that can
protect the Venetian Lagoon
from the Adriatic Sea when water levels get too high.
The idea behind the MOSE project is
relatively simple: 78 metal gates that are 20 meters high, 20 to 30 meters long, and five meters wide are built at the bottom of the mouth of the Venetian Lagoon. In normal conditions, these gates rest on the seabed. _(3)_ The gates are in four rows and each can be managed
separately according to wind patterns or water levels.
Of course, life is usually more
complicated than expected. _(4)_ Environmentalists and
conservative groups are very upset about the MOSE project because they believe it will cause
irreparable damage to the lagoon's environment. Also, many residents of Venice have
objected to the
skyrocketing cost of this huge construction project. _(5)_
(A) If there is
high water or expected high waters, these gates can
be filled with compressed air to allow them to
emerge from the water and
isolate the lagoon.
(B)
Even so, the MOSE project is still
on schedule and will be
completed and ready for testing by 2012.
(C) However, on that
fateful day, the water just kept coming in.
(D) The MOSE project has
run into many
obstacles over the years.
(E) Since then, high waters have been
affecting Venice and other towns near the
lagoon basin every fall, winter, and spring.