http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy-feat...ian-hinterland

I'm just back from riding beside most of these canals, apart from the West Nile @@@ fever and the smell of the chemicals they are putting in to kill it off, the actual buildings and bird life is wonderful.

West Nile fever?? Missed that - what's the story, Bilbo?

http://www.ilgiornaledivicenza.it/st..._disinfestate/

basically the mossies have arrived from North Africa with the thing, most of the drain canals have been sprayed and there are signs up saying something along the lines of don't let children and animals into this water etc. Not such an issue in moving water. I understand similar issues live in USA.

And while we are discussing this the affect of a heavily industrialised city (Mestre) and a shallow lagoon along with 22 Million tourists each year is causing a "local heat island" out of Venice
http://www.ideapadova.it/rubriche/11...-lagunare.html

Thanks for posting those, Bilbo - interesting reading.