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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchiveGrade Level: 6-10
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Venice Sinking
A
new report by archaeologist Albert Ammerman suggests the ancient city
of Venice, Italy may be sinking faster than previously thought. Venice,
which, rests on millions of wooden piles pounded into marshy ground, has
sunk by about seven centimeters a century for the past 1,000 years. The
new report says that it has subsided 24 centimeters in just the past 100
years.
The report also suggests that a controversial and expensive
project to protect the city from flood waters will not work. The $4 billion
project, named Moses, involves a series of moveable dams. The origins
of the project date back to 1966, when the city risked being destroyed
by a flood, 
and
it has provoked plenty of controversy in the intervening 34 years.
But without the dams—and the sinking aside—Venice remains vulnerable to high tides that each year erode buildings and flood squares.
This week's online lesson is a visit the beautiful and historic city of Venice to learn about its unique culture and history.
Venezia
How
would you like to live in a city where there are canals instead of streets
and boats instead of cars? That's what it's like living in Venice (the
city's name in Italian is Venezia). Start this lesson by learning some
basic information about Venice at Discovery School's A-to-Z
Geography site, powered by World Book Online. Read about the city,
the people, the economy, and the history. Why is Venice built on a lagoon?
What is the name of the city's main canal? How many tourists visit Venice
each year?
Virtual Tour of Venice
Now
that you know a little about the city, you're probably ready to see some
beautiful images of Venice. Why not take a virtual tour at Virtualtourist.com.
This link takes you to the beginning of the Venice tour (35 photos). Click
Next to move on to the next photo, or click Index
if there's something specific you're looking for. For each photo in the
tour you will find an explanation below the picture to help you understand
what you are seeing. When did Venice lose its independence and who conquered
the city? During what months do periodic floods swamp parts of the city?
What month would be a good time to visit Venice?
VeNETia
VeNETia
is the unofficial Italian web site of the city of Venice. When the site
opens you will see the winged lion, the historic symbol of the city, and
an illustration of a view from the grand canal. Now youre' ready to start
exploring. Click PIAZZA
SAN MARCO VIRTUALE, which contains information about some of the
highlights around the famous Venetian square. Click Alphabetical
Index, and then click whatever you want to investigate. For example,
learn more about St. Mark's Basilica,
the renowned cathedral church of the city, or try Palazzo
Ducale to learn about the former palace of the Doge.
Now go back and click the HISTORY AND CURIOSITY link, then click one of the topics listed (some are repeated). Read about Carnival, the Venetian "Mardi Gras" celebration, and The Bridge of Sighs, where convicts caught their last glimpse of the lagoon on their way to prison. Try other links that seem interesting.
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