Lmccarthy: Created page with "Canal bounded by buildings and canal walls For every Canal in Venice there are two canal walls. Furthermore these walls can be divided..."

2012-12-06T21:41:43Z

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[[File:canal wall.jpg|thumb|400px|Canal bounded by buildings and canal walls]]
For every [[Canal]] in Venice there are two canal walls. Furthermore these walls can be divided into segments depending on the shape and length of the [[Canal]]. The canal walls serve a very basic purpose; to contain the water in the [[Canals]], and support the walkways and buildings above.

== History ==
In the early civilization of Venice there were no canal walls. The natural [[Canals]] had equally natural earthen banks. Therefore wooden pylons were set in the mud of the [[Canals]] and used to support buildings that would hang over the waters. Over time more and more of these buildings were erected until Venetian infrastructure began reclaiming usable land from the [[Canals]]. In order to further support the buildings and hold back the waters of a [[Canal]], canal walls were constructed. Today every [[Canal]] is defined by canal walls that fend off the waters and serve as the foundation for the structures that stand above.
[[File:Canal_wall_diagram.png|right|thumb|cross section of a canal, composition of canal wall seen on the left of the diagram]]

== Composition ==
[[File:Canal_wall_3d.png|left|thumb|3d perspective of a canal wall]]
The canal walls are made up of 5 main elements. Wood pilings serve as the base support. 5-10 wood pilings are driven into the ground per square meter. Each wood piling is 2-8 meters long and 10-30 cm in diameter<ref>Ing. Lorenzo Bottazzo, November 2011</ref>. On top of the pilings, three planks of 5 cm thick wood are laid.<ref>The foundation of Venetian palaces, Venice backstage, http://www.venicebackstage.org/en/363/le-fondazioni-dei-palazzi-veneziani/</ref>. On top of the wooden planks are a 20-30cm thick layer of ''basoli'', which is a sand stone similar to [[Istria Stone]]. ''Mattone''(italian for bricks) are then laid on top of the ''basoli'', they are layered in tiers for a couple meters until the canal bed meets the water. The next layer of wall is composed of a combination of bricks and [[Istria stone]]. ''[[Bolognini]]'' and ''Cadena'' are the two particular Istria stone used in this layer of the canal wall. [[Bolognini]] are large, strong, non-porous white stone that will not degrade when in contact with the canal water; this makes them the perfect stone to use on the exterior surface of the canal wall which comes in direct contact with the water.<ref>Maintaining Venice’s Canals, Venice for Visitors, http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/maintaining_venices_canals.htm </ref> The ''Cadena'' are large stones that are laid horizontally in incriments in this layer of the canal wall. In between the ''cadena'' and the ''[[Bolognini]]'' bricks are placed and usually covered in plaster and sometimes clay in order to make them less permeable to water.<ref>Borrelli, Crawford, Horstick, Ozbas (1999). Quantification of Sediment Sources in the City of Venice, Italy. WPI.</ref> The last layer of the canal wall is the
''[[Listolina]]'', These are large [[Istria stone|Istria Stones]] that cap off the canal wall. ''[[Listolina]]'' are only seen on ''[[Fondamenta]]'', they connnect to the street pavement on side and overhang into the canal on the other. Underneath the [[Street Pavement]] on the side of the canal wall that is opposite the canal, ''Tera Da Soan''(impermeable clay) is poured to prevent water from seeping through the canal wall and eroding infrastructure<ref>Ing. Lorenzo Bottazzo, November 2011</ref>. The whole canal wall is structured at a slight inward angle, this gives support to buildings and helps prevent the tendency for the land to recede into the canals.
The majority of canal walls located along ''[[Fondamenta]]'' are also equipped with ''[[Colonnina]]'', or "little columns", which then support hand rails that prevent pedestrians from falling into the [[Canals]].

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== Degradation ==
{{For|more information on the deterioration of canal walls| Canal Wall Damage}}

== See Also ==
*[[Canal]]
*[[Canals]]
*[[Canal Wall Damage]]
*[[Canal Wall Maintenance]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Canals]]

Canal Wall - Revision history

Lmccarthy: Created page with "Canal bounded by buildings and canal walls For every Canal in Venice there are two canal walls. Furthermore these walls can be divided..."