The shocking images of Venice without water

Venice, the city of canals and cable cars, is in dire straits these days. Is that water has dropped to critical levels (in some all you can see is mud on the bottom) making it impossible for the boats to move.

The phenomenon is associated with fluctuations tides that affect the city in northern Italy, located on a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. This problem comes at a terrible time, when the city’s tourist activities were already severely compromised by the pandemic.

According to data from Venice Tide Report and Forecast Center, the situation began to be noticed since February 24, and it has now reached a critical point. In its normal values, the tide sets between 50 and 79 centimeters from the bottom. At this time, injured up to 50 centimeters and some canals are virtually waterless.

This is not the first time this has happened. In January 2020, the tide of Venice it records a similar loss and puts its inhabitants in check. The lowest all-time was recorded in February 2018, when the water was 83 centimeters below sea level. low water (as the phenomenon is known in Italy) of 2021, as well as the effects of an entire year of pandemic, makes everything even more difficult.

We also remember the floods of November 2019, when the city suffered its strongest tide in 50 years. This time the The water reached the 166 centimeters in some canals, and the Basilica of San Marcos, located in the plaza of the same name (including the saint’s crypt) was completely flooded.

This time, a 78-year-old man was electrocuted and the damage left a bill of more than a billion euros for the city of canals. Now the situation has moved to the other extreme, although Venice has always developed between high tide Yes shallow water.

THE NATION