The Solution Project MOSE is an ambitious engineering plan to control flooding in Venice. One engineer stated, “With this scheme, we will save Venice.” MOSE is an acronym for the Italian translation of Experimental Electromechanical Module. Italian leaders hope Project MOSE can save art, architecture, homes, and the city’s economy from the increasingly destructive floods. Te MOSE project consists of a system of


gates that lie on the seabed where the Adriatic surges into the Venetian Lagoon. Tese massive barriers are located at three inlets between the barrier islands. Most of the tidal waters from the Adriatic flow through these inlets. Before a high tide, the gates pivot upward, break the surface of the water, and form a temporary dam. Te gates hold back the tidal floodwaters. Several hours later, aſter the tide recedes, the gates are lowered back to the seafloor. Although unsure when Project MOSE will


be fully operational, people around the world, especially Venetians, eagerly wait to see the system in action. Not everyone thinks that the floodgates are


a good idea. Some experts are concerned that blocking the natural flow of tides will have a negative impact on the lagoon’s biodiversity. Tey say lower-cost solutions may be better, such as deepening the canals by dredging sediment and garbage that collects on the bottom. Such canal maintenance used to be performed regularly and is still a good idea. But most engineers are confident that the MOSE project is the best way to safeguard the historical and cultural treasure that is Venice.


WORDWISE barrier island: a long, offshore island parallel


to the coastline


dredging: to clean out sediment from the bottom of an inlet, river, or other body of water


lagoon: a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by islands or reefs


tides: the regular rising and falling of sea levels


22 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTREME EXPLORER


Gates are filled with water and stay down flat on the seafloor until needed.


Project MOSE


A total of 78 gates are located in rows across the three inlets that separate the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.


Air is pumped into the gate, pushing out the water. Each gate then floats upward on its hinge.


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