Venices waters turned fluorescent green on Sunday near the Rialto Bridge, and authorities seek to trace the cause. The regional environmental protection agency has received samples of the altered waters and is working to identify the substance that changed the water’s color, the department said in a tweet. Police have also asked for a thorough examination of the canal to determine the exact nature of the phenomenon.
A bright patch of glowing green liquid appeared in the Grand Canal, a stretch of water famous worldwide for its gondolas and beauty. According to social media posts, the emerald color was first noticed around 9:30 a.m. local time and grew over the day. Gondolas and other tourist boats were seen skimming the luminous substance, which hugged an embankment lined with restaurants.
It was not immediately clear what caused the green hue, which sparked speculation that it could result from algae growth or an intentional act by activists. However, CNN reported that city councilman Andrea Pegoraro blamed climate activists for attacking Italian cultural sites in recent months. He called for an emergency meeting of police forces to understand what happened and study possible countermeasures.
City officials said tests showed that the water did not pose a health risk to residents and tourists but was still trying to determine the cause of the color change. The incident echoed one last week in Rome, where activists poured vegetable charcoal into the Trevi fountain to make its water black in a protest against fossil fuels.
The emerald green area stretched from the Rialto Bridge to part of the Grand Canal, a section crowded with gondolas and other tourist boats. The green blob was first noticed in the early morning and grew slowly, according to social media posts that showed gondolas, water taxis, and water bus boats skimming through the luminous liquid. The Veneto region governor, Luca Zaia, posted a photo on Twitter showing the green fluid that spread from the Rialto Bridge along an embankment lined with restaurants.
A ride in a gondola through the Grand Canal is an experience every visitor to Venice should have on their bucket list. But, of course, Sunday’s emerald spectacle will likely attract more tourists. But for residents of the lagoon city, it is a wake-up call to protect its delicate ecosystem. The emerald water is also a reminder of the ongoing battle against pollution in the region.
