Unusual weather has left some of Venice’s legendary canals dried out – forcing gondolas to park up on dry land.
Cold winter weather, low tides and little rain have caused the storied waterways to drop by up to 23in in some cases.
Photographs taken this week have shown the Queen of the Adriatic looking a shadow of her normal self, with boats covered up and even languishing on the muddy bottoms of empty canals.
Unusual weather has left some of Venice’s legendary canals dried out – forcing gondolas to park up on dry land
Cold winter weather, low tides and high atmospheric pressure have caused the storied waterways to drop by up to 23in in some cases
Photographs taken this week have shown the Queen of the Adriatic looking a shadow of its normal self, with boats covered up and even languishing on the muddy bottoms of empty canals
It is the third year in a row the strange phenomenon has struck Venice.
Two years ago, water levels were reported as 28in below normal levels, curtailing transport by gondola or water taxi for much of the day.
However, the city also faces flooding several times a year.
While tourism in the city is continuing to grow, the size of the population continues to dwindle.
It is the third year in a row the strange phenomenon has struck Venice. Pictured: A small stream of water passing under a bridge in Venice yesterday
Two years ago, water levels were reported as 28in below normal levels, curtailing transport by gondola or water taxi for much of the day. Pictured: The dried-out canals yesterday
However, the city also regularly faces flooding several times a year. Pictured: A meagre puddle where a mighty canal once flowed
While tourism in the city is continuing to grow, the size of the population continues to dwindle
Since 1951, Venice’s population has steadily shrunk from 175,000 to some 55,000. Pictured: The muddy bottom of a dried-out canal
Basements and ground floors in much of Venice are frequently flooded when the ‘acqua alta’ (high water) phenomenon occurs, forcing residents and visitors alike to don high rubber boots and use raised walkways
Several factors are blamed for the shrinking of Venice’s population, including high prices caused by the tourist boom, the logistics of supplying a carless city and the erosion of canal-side apartment buildings by lapping waters
Since 1951, Venice’s population has steadily shrunk from 175,000 to some 55,000.
Several factors are blamed, including high prices caused by the tourist boom, the logistics of supplying a carless city and the erosion of canal-side apartment buildings by lapping waters.
Basements and ground floors in much of Venice are frequently flooded when the ‘acqua alta’ (high water) phenomenon occurs, forcing residents and visitors alike to don high rubber boots and use raised walkways.