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Venice barrier creates a new coral reef
The massive project to build a tidal barrier around Venice has yielded an unexpected bonus - a new coral reef.
The £3.5bn Moses Project is aimed at protecting holiday Venice from rising tidal levels. Each year winter floods threaten some of the world's greatest treasures.
Now a wide variety of marine creatures have decided to make their home along the mile long barrier of rock and cement, effectively turning the barrier into a new coral reef.
Among the creatures populating the structure are the 'giant pen shell' (pinna nobilis), an endangered marine creature that can grow to almost one metre long.
Other noted marine animlas found along the barrier are the 'dustbin lid jellyfish' (rhizostome octopus), which is thought to be the largest jellyfish in the Mediterranean.
This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Val Adams. For more information see: Venice - Offbeat sights. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.
