The Mysterious Reason Why the Grand Canal in Venice Turned Phosphorescent Green

The waters of Venice’s Grand Canal, the Italian city’s main thoroughfare, turned a phosphorescent green on Sunday, local officials said.

The Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAV, in Italian) took water samples with the help of the fire department to determine why it took on this unusual color, according to official reports.

Michele De Bari, the representative of the Italian Ministry of the Interior in Venice, called an emergency meeting to decide on measures to return the Grand Canal to its original color.

According to preliminary reports, the water poses no danger to residents or tourists in one of the world’s most popular destinations, officials said.

The incident reminded me of a similar incident 50 years ago. In 1968, during the Venice Biennale, Argentinian artist Nicolás García Uripuru The waters of the Grand Canal were painted green to promote environmental protection.

As of this Sunday afternoon, no person or group has claimed the case. Responsible for what happened this Sunday in Venice.

Local reports cited by the BBC said authorities are investigating what happened with the celebration of the Vocalonga Regatta, founded by the Venetians in 1974.

Other reports cited by German channel DW indicate that another line of inquiry is whether the incident in Venice is linked to another similar incident in Rome last weekend: The environmental group Ultima Generation used charcoal to dye the water of the Trevi Fountain black. In protest of the Italian government’s policies on climate change.