Venice canals almost run dry just two months after flooding

https://news.sky.com/story/venice-canals-almost-run-dry-just-two-months-after-flooding-11907106?fbclid=IwAR02dcdUwBwawKaBR8K_9zQnLXiDVFk6S5algCvObdtQPQuw2VERz73GMQM

Just weeks after serious flooding caused widespread damage, the famous canals of Venice have been left almost completely dry due to exceptionally low tides.

Two months ago the high tide in Venice peaked at 187cm (6.14ft), leaving around 70% of the lagoon city centre under salt water.

The flooding left the water level at its highest in more than 50 years and there was a race against time to prevent precious artworks being lost.

A view of the flooded St. Mark's Square, as high tide reaches peak, in Venice
Image:Last year salt waters flooded St Mark’s Square in Venice
SYSTEM IDENTIFIER:RTS2XZPTCODE:RC2TDE9ICXTLMEDIA DATE11 Jan. 2020PHOTOGRAPHER:Manuel SilvestriHEADLINE:General view of a canal with boats during an exceptional low tide in the lagoon city of VeniceSIZE:6000px × 4000px (~68 MB)
50.8 cm × 33.8 cm (300dpi)
Image:Gondolas practically beached as Venice’s canals run dry

But at high tide on Saturday the city was a very different sight, with its famous gondolas and boats almost beached at the bottom of canals.

Hotel bookings in the city reportedly dropped by 40% following November’s flooding, the worst since 1966, which left visitors wading through water.

The city, which is built on a collection of 118 small islands, is navigated by canals and more than 400 bridges.

It has a population of just over 260,000 people but millions of tourists visit every year.

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