Photos: Splash news
Parts of Venice's famous canals have been left dry after exceptionally low-water levels. The dry spell comes just months after a large flood hit the city.
Famed for its canals, and the gondolas that transport people on them, the waters in Venice have now plummeted by 48cm, leaving many of the famous boats on dry land for the first time in years. The muddy floors of the canals were also left exposed and resulted in locals flocking to take pictures of the rare event.
In November 2019, Venice suffered its worst flooding for 50 years after torrential rain. The flooding led to the water rising to 187cm and 85 per cent of Venice being put underwater. The famed St Mark's Basilica, one of the cities main attractions, was also flooded for only the 6th time in its 1,200 year history.
One journalist writing for The Guardian said of the flooding:
"People carried small dogs and children, while a man hefted an old woman on to one of the raised board walkways set up for pedestrians. Many shops are open, some with thigh-high 'flood' barriers at the door, even as clerks mop up, pushing water out with wiper blades on sticks or setting up pumps to spew water back out on to the street. In a pizzeria, waiters shuffled through the water to serve customers."
They added:
"By the time I got to St Mark's Square, hip-booted policemen urged people on the walkways to move along and not to stop for selfies. The water in the square was too high for my boots, nearly knee-high, so it spilled over the top and poured in. Cold. The crowd in the square seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, even when it started to rain."
Climate change is being blamed for the extreme weather that has hit Venice over the last few years, and Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, said of the recent dry spell:
"The situation is dramatic. We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change."
It is thought that as global sea-levels rise as a result of global warming, the entire city of Venice may be submerged underwater. Last year construction began on a multi-billion Euro dam project that is designed to save the city when the time comes.
[h/t: The Independent]
COMMENTS