Bet this will stump most

[rmyers1]

What well known City is built atop millions of tree stumps and wooden post.

[sradabaugh]

portland?

[rmyers1]

Tip: #1

Not in these United States.

[rwand1]

Amsterdam.

Which City in Central America is sinking?

[Michael R. Boyett]

Mexico City

[rwand1]

Correcto Mondo! Mexico.

[rmyers1]

Tip #2

The main form of transportation in this famous city is via boat.

[rrichards2]

Venice

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by rrichards2

Venice

I once went to visit Venice, but was so disappointed to find all the streets were flooded

Gerry

[rrichards2]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

I once went to visit Venice, but was so disappointed to find all the streets were flooded

Gerry

You could have gone to New Orleans instead, and saved all that money.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by rrichards2

You could have gone to New Orleans instead, and saved all that money.

Ouch!

Gerry

[rmyers1]

I understand the City is beginning to fall into ruin, because the "foundations" are beginning to weaken and collapse.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Well, Russell, it would appear that you have stumped the board. That is unless Venice is the correct answer but it seems not to be. Time to fill us in.

[rrichards2]

Venice, the Sinking City of ItalyVenice is sinking. The city is built on top of millions of wooden piles that were sunk into the marshy ground about a thousand years ago. The marsh is the problem. The wooden posts have been sinking at the rate of approximately seven centimeters per century. Although that doesn't sound like much, it adds up. At that rate, it would have sunk 70 centimeters over the years. A recent study by an American group, however, estimated that it sank a whopping 24 centimeters in the last century alone! Although the Venetian government believe that study is inaccurate, their own recent study shows that the city is going to sink between 20 and 50 centimeters by 2050. That sounds as though Venice's rate of descent is increasing.

Now the city of Venice is installing a system of hinged barriers at the entrances of the lagoon to try to tame the tides that flood the city. Although this may help with the flooding, it doesn't address the problem related to the sinking piles that hold up the buildings. Some officials are attempting to address some of the other issues facing this historic city, such as dredging debris from the canals, installing septic tanks (The city has historically dumped their sewage into the canals!), and raising some of the walkways above high tide levels.

Perhaps the people of Italy will be able to save this beautiful city before it slips into the depths of the marsh.

[rrichards2]

(The city has historically dumped their sewage into the canals!)

Anyone for a gondola ride?