Europe

Floodgates to protect Venice from sinking

Multi-billion-dollar flood defence system nearing completion to check subsidence problems.
Last Modified: 31 Dec 2012 16:19

The Italian city of Venice has become almost as famous for its flood problems as for its gondolas, a flat-bottomed boat, in recent years.

A combination of subsidence and rising sea levels have seen the St Mark's Square, a major tourist attraction, submerged on an alarmingly regular basis.

But an answer could be on the horizon as a multi-billion-dollar flood defence system is nearing completion.

Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports from Venice.

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