VENETIAN LAGOON

Description

Essentials about the Venetian Lagoon in brief

Most travelers limit their trip to Venice to a visit to the old town. However, those who have a little more time with them should definitely also go on a discovery tour of the lagoon surrounding the city. On the one hand, the lagoon is a unique ecosystem. For another, the many islands of the lagoon are worth a visit, as they all have their own character. From the colorful island of Burano to the sophisticated seaside resort of Lido di Venezia and the famous glassblowing island of Murano, to the more natural islands of Sant’Erasmo and Torcello, every visitor will discover his/her favorite island in the Venetian Lagoon.

The geography of the Venetian Lagoon

The Venetian Lagoon is a lagoon in the north of the Adriatic Sea, largely separated by headlands and islands. It was formed around 4,000 BC by deposits of the Brenta River and other rivers draining the Po Valley.

The lagoon has a north-south extension of about 50 kilometers and a width of about 15 kilometers. The area of about 550 square kilometers consists of about eight percent islands (including Venice itself and a large number of smaller islands). Only 11 percent of the lagoon is permanently covered by water. The rest consists of mudflats and marshes. The Venetian Lagoon is the largest wetland area connected to the Mediterranean Sea.

The lagoon has three outlets to the Mediterranean Sea: the first in the northeast between the mainland (at Cavallino-Treporti) and the island of Lido di Venezia, the second between the islands of Lido and Pellestrina, and the third in the southwest between Pellestrina and the mainland (at Chioggia).

The islands of the Venetian Lagoon

Determining the exact number of islands in the Venetian Lagoon is not an easy task. Depending on whether you take into account sandbars and islands that are submerged at high tide, the number will vary. The main island of Venice itself is also made up of a number of smaller islands.

Currently, there are 11 islands in the lagoon that are inhabited. By far the most populous is the main island of Venice, followed by the island of Lido di Venezia. About 15 of the lagoon islands can be reached by ferries. Some islands that are not permanently inhabited are also served by ferries.

The water in the Venetian Lagoon

Large parts of the Venetian Lagoon have a very shallow water depth and are above water at low tide. In the early days, navigating in the lagoon was therefore not without danger, which is why Venice was very well protected from attacks from the sea. However, in the age of good nautical charts, satellite navigation and buoy marking, navigation through the lagoon has largely lost its danger.

Famously, Venice and its lagoon are notorious for their high water. Who does not know the pictures of Venice under water from television. Due to its location at the northern end of the long arm of the Adriatic Sea and the water movements caused by southerly winds, spring tides can occur, known in Italian as “Acqua alta” (meaning “High water”).

The ecosystem of the Venetian Lagoon

The ecosystem of the Venetian Lagoon is unique. This uniqueness is mainly due to the salinity of the water, which varies greatly in all parts of the lagoon. The lagoon is fed with fresh water by the three great rivers that flow into it: the Brenta, the Piave and the Sile. At the river mouths in the north of the lagoon, the salinity is thus low. However, due to the alternation of high and low tides, a lot of salt water from the Adriatic Sea is washed into the lagoon through the three openings. Depending on the salinity, different animals and plants settle in the different areas of the lagoon.

Human intervention in the Venetian Lagoon over the centuries, both for military and economic motives, has now led to a serious threat to the entire ecosystem. The diverse succession of salt marshes, sandbanks and shoals, as well as the biodiversity of the lagoon, have been massively endangered for decades.

The northern part of the lagoon (roughly from Torcello onwards), which contains mainly fresh water and is hardly affected by tidal changes, is increasingly silting up. The saltwater lagoon in the south, on the other hand, whose water level is strongly influenced by the tides, is becoming deeper and deeper and more hostile to life. The two main reasons for this are the regular dredging of the ship accesses to the industrial ports of Mestre and Marghera and the pumping out of groundwater, which causes further subsidence of the lagoon floor.

The main islands in the Venetian Lagoon

Burano

Lovers of colorful houses and of lace should definitely make a trip to Burano during a trip to Venice. The small island in the northern Venetian Lagoon can be reached in about 40 minutes by water bus. True to the motto “colorful, more colorful, Burano“, the place is famous for its fishermen’s houses painted in bright colors that cover almost the entire color spectrum and are beautifully reflected in the water of the canals. In addition, Burano is world famous for its traditional handmade lace, such as tablecloths and cloths.

Lido di Venezia

Thomas Mann lovers and film fans will be familiar with this island: The Lido di Venezia (Lido of Venice). After all, the Lido is the setting for Mann’s famous novel “Death in Venice” and the venue of the world-famous Venice Film Festival. But lovers of luxury hotels and beachcombers will also find their happiness on the Lido di Venezia. Since the 19th century, the Lido has been the fashionable seaside resort of Venice, with numerous luxurious accommodations and the largest and most beautiful beaches around the city.

Murano

Murano is a group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, located not far northeast of the old city of Venice. Murano has many similarities with Venice: it is car-free, densely built-up and instead of streets there are canals. Next to Venice, Murano is the second most important island in the Venetian Lagoon and is equally popular among tourists. This is mainly due to the centuries-old and world-famous glass art, which is still practiced in Murano today. Anyone who wants to watch glass being made or buy a more or less artistic glass object will find her/his happiness in Murano.

San Giorgio Maggiore

The small island of San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the most photographed and most visited sights in Venice and should definitely be on the visit list when traveling to the lagoon city. Every day, crowds of tourists flock to the island, just 200 meters from Piazza San Marco, to see the church and monastery of the same name. The real highlight of the island, however, is the fantastic view that can be enjoyed from San Giorgio Maggiore. From the church’s bell tower, you can enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful panoramic view of all of Venice. Many people claim it is the most beautiful view of Venice ever.

Torcello

Those who have a little more time for her/his visit to Venice should make a small detour to the island of Torcello. Torcello is located in the so-called “laguna morta”, the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon, where the tides are no longer noticeable. The island, which covers about 44 hectares, is hardly inhabited today, but it is still a tourist attraction. The reason for this are the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest surviving church in the Venice region, and the excellent gastronomy on Torcello.