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How was the Venice Lagoon formed by rivers and Adriatic tidal currents?
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Venice
Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, where the Grand Canal opens into the San Marco Basin.
The Venice Lagoon was formed through the ongoing interaction between the tidal currents of the Adriatic Sea and the waters of several Alpine rivers, including the Piave, Sile, Bacchiglione, and Brenta.12
This geological process created a unique landscape characterized by mud banks, shallows, and navigable channels. The lagoon is protected from the open sea by a line of sandbanks, known as lidi, which feature three gaps, or porti, that allow for the movement of tides and maritime traffic. These tidal currents have historically served a vital function for the city, acting as a natural sewerage system by flushing out the canals twice daily.123