Colorful grasses and swirling tidal channels on one of the 62 small islands in salt marsh of Lagoon Venice which is the largest wetland in the Mediterranean Basin, Venice, Area Lio Piccolo, Italy.

The salt marches are amongst the most productive ecosystems in the world, because the tidal flooding – in just the right amounts – brings moisture, nutrients and dissolved oxygen. These all help marsh plants to grow abundant leaves and robust roots. This is how they protect our shores and provide the homes for abundant wildlife and colorful flora, that can tolerate being periodically flooded by salty tidal waters.

Venice requires this protection due to constant human presence. Settlements, overwhelming tourist traffic, industrial developments, public transport by water-buses, so called Vaporettos, as well as many private yachts and boats endanger both the islands, and the marshes. Continuously, new plans for ambitious dam systems are drawn up, only to be set aside sooner or later.

By the numbers:
TIME: 18:48
DATE: aug/4
FILE SIZE: 44MP