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(water trickling)
(gentle string music)

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October 28th, 2018,

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the pictures of the high tide in Venice

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go viral around the world.

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This is nothing new for the Venetians,

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who are used to it,
(water sloshing)

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but the intensity of the storm

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caught everyone off guard, even the organizers

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of the Venice Marathon.

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Despite last minute changes to the starting time

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and route, they couldn't but give participants

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an experience they'll never forget.

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(soft string music)

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It had been 10 years since a high tide

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had exceeded the threshold of 1.5 meters above sea level.

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On October 28th at 2:00 p.m.,

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75% of the city was underwater.

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The usual solutions, such as walkways,

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pumps and barriers, were not enough this time.

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(water sloshing)
(eerie music)

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(people chattering)

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Inevitably, restaurant goers

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were forced to eat their pizza

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with their feet in the standing water.

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(eerie music)

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Even the mosaics of San Marco were covered

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by the saltwater, which gradually arose

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up the walls of the basilica and attacked the frescoes.

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(eerie music)
(water sloshing)

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The city superintendent's monument said,

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"Venice has aged 20 years in one day."

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(eerie music)

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This is nothing compared to the damage

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caused by the November 1966 flooding.

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(eerie music)

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(speaking in foreign language)

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In just a few hours, the water rose

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by almost two meters, and the tide took control

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of the city for almost 18 consecutive hours.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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It was an unprecedented alarm bell.

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To save Venice, it was essential to control the tide

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coming into the lagoon from the open sea,

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but how could this be done?

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(eerie music)

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Only a system of floodgates at the four lagoon entrance

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that could protect the city from floodings.

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Two at Lido Inlet, one at Malamocco, and one at Chioggia.

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(eerie music)

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This solution, called MOSE, is based on an idea

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that is as simple as it is innovative.

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It consists in 78 flap gates like these.

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They weigh nearly 330 tons each,

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and will normally lie on the bottom of the lagoon.

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(eerie music)

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When needed, the flap gates can be pumped with air

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until they rise in a straight line,

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blocking the flow of the tide coming in.

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Despite its simplicity, the MOSE is the most ambitious

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and complex hydraulic engineering project

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ever attempted in the world.

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(eerie music)

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(water rushing)

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Here, we're at the Malamocco construction site,

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where this metal structure called grasshopper

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has just finished positioning a flap gate.

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The pontoon is on its way to pick it up

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and move it to the spot

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where it will lower the following one.

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The pontoon, loaded with the next flap gate,

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must make for the moment of calm between tides

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before slipping under the grasshopper.

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The first step is to secure it to the buoys

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positioned at the four cardinal points using steel cables.

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With the help of winches, the cables

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will keep the pontoon still

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in its position under the grasshopper.

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(people chattering)

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Now, the technicians can extend the heavy steeled structure

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until it slots into the rail of the grasshopper.

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(machine rattling)

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The noise of the generators is deafening.

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This is why the hooking operations

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are directed by small conventional hand gestures

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that guide and correct the maneuvers.

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The maneuver itself requires the utmost precious,

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because there is no room for mistake.

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The movements of the structure are constantly obstructed

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by the currents or by passing ships,

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so much so that it needs a constant adjustment.

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(water rushing)
(machines rumbling)

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The hooking has been completed, and two large pivots

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hold the structure and the grasshopper joint together.

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(hammer clanking)

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Now, the workmen hook the four legs

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with strong steel cables, and the entire grasshopper

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is slowly raised from the seafloor,

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and lifted by more than one meter.

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(man yelling in foreign language)

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(machine scraping)

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Now that the pontoon and the grasshopper are one,

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the structure can be moved with the help of the winches

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until it reaches the position

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where a new flap gate needs to be lowered.

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A passing ship makes their work even harder.

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Sophisticated electronic devices measure

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the position of individual elements

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and allow the control room to guide the descent

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with millimeter accuracy.

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(people speaking in foreign language)

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The legs must be lowered slowly until they rest

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in the designated points

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on the large reinforced concrete platform.

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The 330 ton flap gate must be gently submerged.

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The descent needs to be perfectly controlled

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to allow the hinges attached to the flap gates

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to simultaneously lodge into the steel slots

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in the reinforced concrete.

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It took years to assemble

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the concrete platform on the seafloor.

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The individual components that make up the platform

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have been built here in this site on the mainland.

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The engineers call them caissons.

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They may look like simple four story buildings

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under construction, but each and every detail is special,

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from the concrete to the steel,

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all elements must endure the saltwater,

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but the best part, when these giant caissons

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need to be lowered into the sea

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and transported, is yet to come.

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Each caisson weighs 24,000 tons and requires

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a special trolley fitted with pistons,

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which is capable to raise them

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and gently move them to the launch pontoon.

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Then, once it is semi-submerged, like an iceberg,

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the caisson is dragged by the tugboats

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until it reaches its final home.

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(eerie music)

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This is its most delicate phase,

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the caisson needs to be lowered slowly until it rests

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on the ballasts that have been prepared

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on the seafloor to house it.

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(soft music)

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It needs to be aligned with the previous one

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in such a way that the trimming between one caisson

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and the next is completely watertight.

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(soft music)

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The platform has been designed to contain

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an underwater tunnel that crosses the entire stretch of sea.

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(soft music)

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Here, the technicians can go down

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and fix the hinges of the flap gates.

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(soft music)

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But let's return to the surface.

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The grasshopper is once again firmly on its legs,

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ready to receive the flap gate that has been waiting

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on the pontoon until now.

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(soft music)

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The trolleys turn it around

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and take it under the grasshopper,

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which will finally be maneuvering it.

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(soft music)

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The workmen carefully wash and lubricate

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the anchorages, then, the beam is lowered

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to allow the hooks to be positioned

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at the designated slots.

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A small rotation, and there we are.

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The beam is firmly hooked.

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(soft music)
Attention.

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(machine rumbling)

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Now, the hydraulic lifts come into play,

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raising the flap gate and freeing the trolleys.

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(machine rumbling)
(soft music)

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The pontoon has finished its task.

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It is free to set off back to the base.

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The day is coming to an end,

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but for the workmen, the job isn't finished yet.

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First, they must recover and roll up the ropes.

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It's a tricky task that for months they've been repeating

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with skillful movements each time they position a new gate.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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This evening, though, they're in the mood

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for a celebration, it's the eve

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of the end of the works here in Malamocco.

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It's the right occasion for a photo

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to celebrate the long days spent

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in this corner of the lagoon.

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The men are thinking about the finishing line

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that lies ahead.
(speaking in foreign language)

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Tomorrow is the big day when the last flap gate

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on this inlet will be laid.

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(soft music)

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Just in time for the Feast of the Redeemer.

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(soft music)

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The following morning, however,

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the weather has suddenly changed.

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(eerie music)

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The operation to install the last flap gate,

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number 19, gets off to a bad start.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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When the flap gate is gradually being lowered,

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the weather deteriorates further.

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(waves crashing)
(eerie music)

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The wind picks up and pushes the waves

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straight up the canal.
(eerie music)

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(speaking in foreign language)

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(eerie music)

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The risk is too great,

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and the engineers decide to give up.

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They do so reluctantly, like those who haven't completed

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a task before a celebration.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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What's more, the next day

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it's impossible to work even if they want to.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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Because of the feast, the canal will be full of boats,

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and inevitably, the flap gate will have to remain there,

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hanging from the grasshopper,

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at the mercy of the elements until the celebration is over.

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(eerie music)

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Despite the forecasts, the first rays of sunlight

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shine on a cruise ship loaded with passengers

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that are looking forward to enjoying the show

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of what's the most beloved celebration for Venetians.

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The vessel slides past the grasshopper,

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which compared to this giant of the sea

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seems unusually small, folded on itself,

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as if it were ashamed of that last hanging flap gate.

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It's as if it knew that Venice needs protecting.

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(eerie music)

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(people chattering)

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The town is bustling with preparations.

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The Bridge of Barges on Giudecca Canal is ready.

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The faithful and tourists cross it to thank the redeemer

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for putting an end to the plague

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that starting in 1565 decimated the population.

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(bells ringing)

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(bright classical music)

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To this day, there are crowds of Venetian boats.

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(bright classical music)

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They eat, drink and dance

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to celebrate the return to life,

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waiting for the main event at night.

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(bright classical music)

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An incredible firework display illuminates the sea

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opposite San Marcos Square, which is filled beyond belief

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with all kinds of boats.

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(fireworks blast)
(bright classical music)

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(soft piano music)

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On Monday morning, the weather conditions

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are finally perfect.
(gentle classical music)

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The divers swim underwater to prepare the slots

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that will host the hinges.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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(tense music)
(air bubbling)

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The divers must also position

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the video cameras that allow the control room

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to follow the most delicate phase of the descent live,

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the hooking of the hinges.

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(water trickling)
(speaking in foreign language)

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The jacks go up and down.

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The cables gradually lower the flap gate

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according to an asset that allows the hinges

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to perfectly slide into the slots

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that are ready to fit it.

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(speaking in foreign language)

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The video cameras film this decisive moment.

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00:14:09,752 --> 00:14:13,480
The technicians have to constantly make small adjustments

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to compensate for all external interference.

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(ship horn blaring)

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The hinges at the heart of the system

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00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,460
and the technicians know this well.

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00:14:25,460 --> 00:14:28,830
All electronic connections with the flap gate

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00:14:28,830 --> 00:14:29,943
pass through them.

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00:14:31,235 --> 00:14:35,152
(speaking in foreign language)

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00:14:37,060 --> 00:14:39,660
It's touch down, but it's not over yet.

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00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,890
It's now time for the technicians in the sea tunnel

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00:14:43,890 --> 00:14:45,163
to complete the hooking.

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The piston rises an inch and fuses into the hinge

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00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:52,760
a hammer hook that by rotating 90 degrees,

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00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:54,907
secures it to the platform.

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00:14:54,907 --> 00:14:59,907
(piston humming)
(gentle music)

283
00:15:00,870 --> 00:15:02,823
A message arrives from underwater.

284
00:15:03,981 --> 00:15:06,091
(speaking in foreign language)

285
00:15:06,091 --> 00:15:08,810
It's perfectly watertight, operation over.

286
00:15:08,810 --> 00:15:11,083
This step is finished too.

287
00:15:11,083 --> 00:15:15,000
(speaking in foreign language)

288
00:15:20,312 --> 00:15:23,312
(people applauding)

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00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,949
All 19 flap gates are in place.

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00:15:26,949 --> 00:15:29,180
To release tension, they celebrate

291
00:15:29,180 --> 00:15:32,000
with a glass of Prosecco, from Veneto, of course.

292
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:32,833
Where else?

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00:15:33,718 --> 00:15:36,842
(people speaking in foreign language)

294
00:15:36,842 --> 00:15:40,160
(bright music)

295
00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:44,190
The MOSE is a major tech hub where experimentation

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00:15:44,190 --> 00:15:46,838
constantly provides new solutions.

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00:15:46,838 --> 00:15:49,255
(soft music)

298
00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,270
This prototype, called jack-up, is the latest one.

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00:15:55,270 --> 00:15:57,790
It was devised to overcome all issues

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00:15:57,790 --> 00:15:59,860
that had previously emerged.

301
00:15:59,860 --> 00:16:03,133
It's basically a floating and semi-mobile grasshopper

302
00:16:03,133 --> 00:16:06,923
that can load the flap gates directly from the pier.

303
00:16:06,923 --> 00:16:09,570
Its strange C-shape was studied

304
00:16:09,570 --> 00:16:11,570
to lock with the end of the pier

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00:16:11,570 --> 00:16:14,090
and allow the trolleys to carry the flap gate

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00:16:14,090 --> 00:16:16,938
right under the raising structure of the jack-up.

307
00:16:16,938 --> 00:16:19,355
(soft music)

308
00:16:23,260 --> 00:16:25,450
In this way, it can be hooked and raised

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00:16:25,450 --> 00:16:28,110
from the pier directly, saving time

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00:16:28,110 --> 00:16:30,575
and avoiding complex maneuvers at sea.

311
00:16:30,575 --> 00:16:33,720
(soft music)

312
00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,670
The ace in the hole of this vessel

313
00:16:35,670 --> 00:16:39,170
are its four powerful hydrogen engines.

314
00:16:39,170 --> 00:16:43,440
Independent and able to rotate 360 degrees,

315
00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,010
they allow the jack-up to perform

316
00:16:45,010 --> 00:16:48,160
extremely precise maneuvers, avoiding the need

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00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,113
to anchor to keep a position.

318
00:16:51,430 --> 00:16:54,390
And here is the second ace in the hole.

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00:16:54,390 --> 00:16:56,160
Having reached its position,

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00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,230
the computer onboard can neutralize

321
00:16:58,230 --> 00:17:01,260
the effects of the currents, and even movements

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00:17:01,260 --> 00:17:03,163
caused by passing ships.

323
00:17:04,076 --> 00:17:06,589
(soft classical music)

324
00:17:06,589 --> 00:17:10,056
Finally, the jack-up can lower the legs.

325
00:17:10,056 --> 00:17:12,490
(machine whirring)

326
00:17:12,490 --> 00:17:15,270
A system of hydraulic jacks accompanies them

327
00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:17,350
until they reach the allocated slots

328
00:17:17,350 --> 00:17:20,200
on the underwater platform and gradually,

329
00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,340
the entire vessel rises from the sea

330
00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:24,318
by more than one meter.

331
00:17:24,318 --> 00:17:27,300
(speaking in foreign language)

332
00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:30,086
At this point, the technicians can lower the flap gate.

333
00:17:30,086 --> 00:17:31,960
(soft music)

334
00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,170
Hanging from four steel cables,

335
00:17:34,170 --> 00:17:37,509
it descends slowly, guided by the spring jacks.

336
00:17:37,509 --> 00:17:40,350
(soft music)

337
00:17:40,350 --> 00:17:42,900
The operations that previously were directed

338
00:17:42,900 --> 00:17:45,700
remotely from the control room can now be controlled

339
00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:47,938
directly from the bridge of the jack-up.

340
00:17:47,938 --> 00:17:50,355
(soft music)

341
00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,250
By the end of the year, all mobile barriers

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00:17:58,250 --> 00:18:00,229
are scheduled to be in place.

343
00:18:00,229 --> 00:18:03,400
(soft music)

344
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,852
The first tests on those already installed have started.

345
00:18:06,852 --> 00:18:09,352
(eerie music)

346
00:18:10,370 --> 00:18:12,640
But it will be many months of tuning and testing

347
00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,921
of the entire system before the MOSE is operative.

348
00:18:15,921 --> 00:18:18,754
(plaintive music)

349
00:18:20,670 --> 00:18:22,060
Only then will the world discover

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00:18:22,060 --> 00:18:24,830
if this colossal megastructure can save Venice

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00:18:24,830 --> 00:18:26,093
and its ancient beauty.

352
00:18:27,345 --> 00:18:29,762
(soft music)