The mystery of the floods of Venice is rooted in the city’s unique geographical position. Located on a lagoon, Venice has been particularly prone to flooding due to its location and rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Venetian Lagoon, which makes up most of the city, is an enclosed body of water that receives periodic tidal surges from the Adriatic Sea. This can cause high waters around Piazza San Marco and other parts of the city during certain times throughout the year. Extreme weather events such as storms or high winds can exacerbate these conditions, leading to much higher tides than normal.
Venice also faces significant subsidence due to land reclamation projects over centuries combined with heavy tourism and industry within its borders. As a result, much of Venice lies below sea level and is more vulnerable than ever before when it comes to flooding events caused by both natural causes and human-made factors like construction projects near bodies of water or mismanagement of drainage systems. This combination has led to some devastating floods for Venice in recent years that have damaged many buildings and left their mark on Piazza San Marco for all time.