A shimmering green liquid in the famous Grand Canal caused a stir in Venice last weekend. On Sunday, the water near the Rialto Bridge suddenly glowed green. At first there was no explanation for this. Then, on Monday, Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, wrote: on twitter: According to initial analyses, the shimmering green liquid is not dangerous.
Experts from the environmental protection agency Arpa Veneto had determined when evaluating samples that it is likely to be a coloring organic agent that is used in water inspections or in caving.
The green spot appeared in the water near the famous Rialto Bridge on Sunday morning. It could be a protest by environmental activists – who had recently carried out actions in Italy several times at well-known locations – but initially no one acknowledged it.
Memories of the year 1968
The environmental agency published its first results on Sunday evening. So it could glow derived from the substance fluoresceinwhich is commonly used to test the integrity of sewers.
Some Venetians recalled 1968 when artist Nicolás Garcia Uriburu from Argentina colored the water of the city’s central canal green to indicate water pollution. Because recently in Italy more and more climate protectors with color campaigns attracted attention, there were also suspicions that this could be such a protest – but initially no group acknowledged it.
On Pentecost Sunday, the traditional Vogalonga regatta took place in Venice, in which rowing boats, canoes and gondolas take part. It was launched in 1974 as a protest against motor boats.