Venice Water Authority Inspects Shortest River in the World, Cassone Residents Hope

Last Tuesday, four engineers sent by the Magistrato alle Acque of Venice conducted a careful inspection of the Aril river in Cassone following requests from the Frazione Committee published on Friday, February 16, in L’Arena in the article titled “Let’s Save the Aril River”.

The technicians carried out a thorough examination of the riverbed’s condition and took numerous photos from various angles of the source and from different positions along the watercourse. We recall that the Aril is the shortest river in the world, measuring approximately 175 meters from source to mouth.

The residents of Cassone have expressed concern over the old aqueduct’s conduits, which have been decommissioned. This aqueduct previously supplied water to the Cassone hamlet until the construction of the municipal aqueduct. The river, a true tourist attraction of the upper lake — holding a Guinness World Record — currently displays a shameful spectacle with rusty pipes, which the residents of Cassone claim in the article “They turn the river into an open sewer”.

Attraction factors and current conditions of the river

Two other reasons for the river’s attraction are the special nativity scene made on the water by the committee during the Christmas season and the trout that migrate from the lake, which find an ideal environment here for spawning.

The local residents expressed their satisfaction upon hearing about the Magistrato alle Acque inspection: “The engineers promised they will return during the dry season,” says Luca Brighenti, owner of the hotel located right on the Aril in Cassone, who was able to observe the four engineers during the inspection.

This indicates a sign of interest from the authorities, sparking hope for a value enhancement—or requalification—of this unique natural beauty.