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Grand Canal In Venice Turns Green, Mystifying Locals And Tourists Alike

On Sunday, the water of the Grand Canal in Venice suddenly turned bright green, stumping people and causing a mild panic.

After some tourists and residents noticed the bright green waters of the canal, they shared the images on social media while some contacted local authorities. Given no apparent cause, the police launched an investigation into the matter.

Nicolás García Uriburu dyeing the canal in 1966

In the meantime, many people speculated about the involvement of climate activists. For those who might not be aware, in recent months Europe has been rocked by the stunts of climate activists as a way to bring awareness towards environmental issues. The prime suspect was the climate group Ultima Generazione, the umbrella group which had links to more than a dozen such stunts in the past year. However, the group flatly denied the allegations. This is also not the first time that the Grand Canal was turned green for ecological awareness. In 1966, Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu colored the canal green during the 34th Venice Biennale to spread environmental awareness.

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On Monday, the police revealed the conclusions of their investigation. According to their report, the color was due to a fluorescent dye that was used in canals to detect water leakage. The dye is not toxic, nor were any other toxic elements found in the water. However, the police were unable to determine if there was such a leak or where else did the dye enter the canal waters.