7 Cities Around The Globe That Are Sinking

Cities are proof of human being’s dominance over nature. However, despite mankind’s machinations, these 7 cities around are sinking if solutions cannot be found.

1. Shanghai, China

Shanghai, is one of the fastest sinking cities in the world. According to EcoWatch, the city’s sinking rate is approximately 1 cm per year. Groundwater extraction is the main cause of this problem.

Compared to a few decades ago, this rate has significantly declined from 9 cm per year. To achieve this dramatic improvement, any water wells need to have official permits. At the same time, Shanghai is losing sediment that would protect the city as all of its dammed rivers. Sediment is a construction material.

2. Mexico City, Mexico

EcoWatch reports that it is groundwater extraction that leads to the city’s condition. Its sinking rate is 38 cm a year in different places.

After 60 years, the city has sunk 9.8 meters. Since the groundwater is extracted, empty spaces are left behind, leading to subsidence over time.

Another factor that contributes to the high sinking rate is that the city was located on a drained lake in an old volcanic crater.

3. Bangkok, Thailand

The sinking rate of the city is approximately 2 cm per year. And, this number might increase in the next decade.

A government report from 2015 predicted that by around 2030, the city will likely sink underwater. Like other cities that are on the list, the main culprit is groundwater extraction.

Attempt to reduce this problem has been made like the 1977 Ground Water Act to restrict the practice. Since then, the rate of groundwater extraction has been reduced. Water is pumped back underground. But in the long term, these solutions might not be enough.

4. Venice, Italy

When talking about sinking cities, Venice might be the most famous example. Each year, the city is sinking 1 to 2 mm.

The city is known for its romantic history and extensive waterways. It is built with inadequate foundations in a muddy lagoon.

This leads to the city’s underground to compact over time. And combined with the rising sea level, it is not long until the city sinks underwater.

Compared to other cities, Venice has a fairly low population. This means groundwater extraction isn’t the city’s main problem.

5. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos consists of different islands. The city has poor drainage and is constantly under threat of flooding. A study from 2012 showed that it would be catastrophic for Lagos if the sea level rose 1 to 3 meters.

The city has a large population, leading to huge amounts of groundwater being consumed every year.

6. London, the United Kingdom

The capital of Britain is another sinking city. The problem dates back to the prehistoric part of the city.

During the last ice age, much of Northern Europe was covered by enormous glaciers. The weight of the glaciers pushed the curst of the Earth in Northern regions such as Scotland.

The glaciers melted, leading to Scotland rising at about 1mm per year. Meanwhile, London is sinking at the same rate.

The Thames Barrier which was opened in 1984 to deal with this problem was expected to only be used from 2 to 3 times each year to protect the city from floods.

7. Dhaka, Bangladesh

The final city on the list is sinking at about 1.5 cm per year. The main reasons for this are plate tectonics, rising sea-level, and groundwater extraction.

The sinking rate of the city is around 10 times compared to the global average. As a result, millions of citizens have had to move from surrounded coastal villages to other parts of the city.

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