Venice and other places that will (probably) end up underwater

The first settlements already predicted what the future would be: around rivers or places dedicated to pilgrimage, human beings were forging the concept of the city. Those places where to abandon the nomadic and wandering life, to be able to always sleep in the same place, with the same company, and leading a sometimes alienating routine. With the man the cities arose, imposing and large, but also ephemeral, since many have not reached the present time because of the wars or the simple passage of time.

Evolved, of course, and many became the impressive megalopolises that we can visit or inhabit today. The problem? As always, climate change and some man-made activities, together with ‘conflict’ areas where to build. There are some cities that, getting a little ashy, it is better to visit now because maybe in the future it will be difficult to do so. From Venice to Bangkok, passing through many others, all over the globe there are cities that risk disappearing in the near future, engulfed by water. Here are some examples.

Venice

The case of Venice is quite peculiar: a city built on about 120 approximate islands and crossed by 117 canals where there are also 381 bridges. An Atlantis still on earth, ancient and labyrinthine, which according to some forecasts could disappear by 2100. At present, many of its buildings are sinking, and according to experts, considering that the sea level will continue to rise in the coming decades due to the melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, the future is not especially rosy.

The idea is to install offensive barriers at sea composed of mobile gates, located in strategic places, to create a ‘coastal cordon’ that, it is hoped, will minimize major floods

As indicated by a recent article published in ‘BBC‘, in an attempt to contain the increase in water and protect the city, Venice has thought of the Mose (Experimental electromechanical Module) project, which is about installing offensive barriers at sea composed of movable gates, located in strategic places, to create a ‘coastal cordon’ that, it is hoped, will minimize major flooding. It would be hard for such an admired city to disappear into the waters, so it remains only to hope that the human being will not allow it.

San Francisco

The city of the characteristic red bridge is sinking. A study published in the journal ‘Science Advances’ a few months ago came to that conclusion, due to the increase in sea level caused by climate change.

The speed of sea level rise has led to the risk of flooding could be twice as high as originally estimated

This is combined with the subsidence of the city’s own land, due to underground movements in the area where two tectonic plates collide. The problem is that the speed of sea level rise has led to the risk of flooding could be twice as high as originally estimated.

Bangkok

Again, the forecasts they’re a little nefarious. According to studies, it could be submerged underwater by 2030, because its incredible skyscrapers are causing the ground to collapse due to the heavy weight of the buildings.

With such a scenario, the National Reform Council of Thailand he has come to the conclusion that something urgent needs to be done, and recommended building a seawall around the city with the idea of curbing the problem. We will see how events unfold.

Shanghai

As with Bangkok, the weight of the imposing buildings of the ‘skyline’ that make up the Chinese city, they’re not doing any good. Shanghai is submerged about two centimeters a year, and this is accelerated with each new building.

Although, really, that the city is sinking is one of the least problems of its population, who has had to get used to the pollution and diseases it causes, as well as gentrification and traffic impossible

Alexandria

The mythic one has already sunk, and it can happen again. Lawrence Durrell’s favorite city, with the name of a conqueror, he is also suffering from rising sea levels, and it seems that he has no means to face this catastrophe despite having survived fires, earthquakes or wars in the past.

A 2018 study predicted that by the year 2050, more than 700 square kilometers of the Nile Delta they could end up submerged. Some people who live in the low-lying areas have been suffering problems for years due to the rise in sea level, which could end up with a multitude of historical places and archaeological treasures if it is not remedied.

New Orleans

In 2016, a study conducted by NASA concluded that the city next to the Mississippi he will be a witness of a 36 centimeter rise above sea level by 2040.

Some areas near the river will sink faster, due this time to groundwater pumping, earthworks and human extraction of water, oil and gas

Some areas near the river will sink faster, due on this occasion to the pumping of groundwater, earthworks and human extraction of water, oil and gas. Will the population have to move to live somewhere else?

The first settlements already predicted what the future would be: around rivers or places dedicated to pilgrimage, human beings were forging the concept of the city. Those places where to abandon the nomadic and wandering life, to be able to always sleep in the same place, with the same company, and leading a sometimes alienating routine. With the man the cities arose, imposing and large, but also ephemeral, since many have not reached the present time because of the wars or the simple passage of time.