I was struck by the power of this photo in a story on Venice:
In the last 100 years, Venice has sunk by 23 centimeters (nine inches), and if what United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) scientists are predicting today is true, namely that the water level in the Adriatic lagoon could rise by 50 centimeters by the year 2100, the city could very well be underwater for 250 days a year.
One wonders how ancient cities as vibrant as Ephesus came to be completely abandoned after thriving for centuries. Warfare, earthquakes, changes to coastlines, silted harbours,sealevel rises eventually made further settlement untenable. As the waters rise perhaps we are witnessing the disappearance of Venice as an inhabited place after two millenia. Terribly sad to think at some point tourists will pole about the place in boats or snorkel amidst the ruins, trying to imagine what it once was.