The canal (Italian: canale) is an essential element of the aquatic viability of Venice and its lagoon.

The term canale is used in the area of ​​the historic center to indicate the waterways that, due to their width, length and traffic density, constitute the true arteries of the city's internal navigation system. These are:[1]​.

Outside the urban context, the term canale is used to specifically designate the natural navigable routes of the lagoon that surround the city or that link it to the mainland or the port. The main ones are:

These channels are actually areas of the lagoon with a greater flow of water that have a natural or artificial depth greater than that of the rest of the lagoon that surrounds them, from which they are otherwise indistinct. These are often vestigial residues of ancient river beds. The greater depth of these channels makes them suitable for large tonnage navigation. A system of sticks placed at a regular distance (the duques de alba "Duque de Alba (maritime work)")) indicates the limit of these channels, outside of which the depth of the lagoon decreases drastically to the point of making navigation impossible except with the typical flat-bottomed rowing boats.

It is precisely due to this second meaning that some navigable sections currently incorporated into the urban center have maintained the old name of canale. Until the century, these waterways marked the limits of the city with the lagoon, before subsequent underground interventions in the surrounding areas that incorporated them into the city. These are:

Currently it is not allowed to immerse yourself in the canals of Venice because its water is dangerous due to the high level of pollution.[2]​[3]​.