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Venice Canals Run Clear Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

Mar 19, 2020

Main image via Pexels

Venice faced the constant issue of over-tourism. That has changed since the coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier this month, Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte had ordered a nationwide lockdown — bringing Italy’s booming tourism industry to a halt. Once busy streets and canals are now quiet — so quiet in fact, that reports have noted that murky waters of the city’s historic canals have turned clear…a first in years!

It’s cloudy past was the by-product of pollution by diesel from commuter boats and water buses.

Image via The Hill

Since the enforcement of the lockdown, residents have shared images not only of the clear waters but wildlife returning to the canals, including dolphins. Yes, dolphins.

The canals in #Venice suddenly became insanely clean. Due to the lack of tourists in the country, it happened that nature was cleansed.

Even dolphins and swans came back to Venice 😍#coronavirus #ClimateChange #coronavirusitalia #covid_19italia pic.twitter.com/kSSurjxBGO

— European Union Club (@EuropeanUnionC) March 19, 2020

The European Space Agency shared a video of the level of nitrogen dioxide dropping in the country.

After a week of lockdown... The canals in Venice are all clear and full of fishes. Kinda gives you the idea what will happen to Earth without Humans! pic.twitter.com/FVc7N8vmty

— TheSpaceAcademy.org✨🔭 (@ThespaceAcad) March 17, 2020

As of today, Italy is suffering from the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, with almost 3,000 reported deaths.