Venice could be underwater by 2100 - thanks to global warming

Venice is known as the ‘Floating City’ – but it could disappear beneath the waters of its famous canals by the end of this century, scientists have warned.

Venice and other Italian landmarks are under threat, as sea levels rise by up to four feet, researchers have warned.

By contrast, levels have risen just one foot in the past 1,000 years, researchers from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology say.

MORE: Poachers kill one of Africa’s oldest elephants using ‘poisoned arrow’

MORE: Your waist size could determine your risk of heart disease

The researchers analysed coastal quarries to study previous sea level change – and used these models to predict future changes.

The researchers say that a rise of between three and four feet over by 2100 would swamp Venice and 33 other areas along the coast.

Other areas at risk include Fiumicino in Lazio, the Versilia in Tuscany, and coastal areas near Catania, Cagliari and Oristano.

‘The coast of the Mediterranean provides several remnants of ancient coastal quarries, which are now useful to study sea level change occurring during the last millennia,’ the scientists wrote.

‘Millstones quarries were exploited with same quarrying techniques from rocks like beachrocks, sandstones or similar lithologies, were shaped to be suitable to grind olives, seeds and wheat, to produce oil and flour, or to break apart soft rocks.’