Monday, October 29, 2018

Acqua alta - Venice is Flooded!

Venice, one of the most interesting cities in the world, has suffered the worst flooding in at least 10 years.  You might have to read a British newspaper to be aware of this, but water levels in Venice have risen to over 1 metre asl in places, and 75% of the city is flooded to some extent.  News reports show tourists wearing the famous yellow plastic boots, wading through the shops and streets.

The iconic St. Mark's Square is the centre of 'acqua alta' (high water).  The water doesn't wash in from the lagoon; rather it rises through the drainage grates and spreads across the square - in this case until it's thigh deep.

We have visited Venice twice, and were amazed at what we learned about rising water levels.  This restaurant is along the Grand Canal just south of the Rialto bridge.

Tourists walking outside St. Mark's Basilica.  The city puts out raised wooden sidewalks, so some tourists anyway can keep their feet dry!

The famous yellow plastic boots.  Today, with water reaching mid-thigh, these would be of no use at all.  But Venice is currently finishing construction of a flooding barrier known as MOSE at a cost of 6 billion Euros..  Based on enormous gates set in concrete foundations across 3 inlets to the lagoon, it remains to see whether it will work.

Shallow water flooding St. Mark's Square in the evening.

Acqua alta isn't the only challenge facing Venice.  As this photo suggests, there is a huge conflict between the traditional and the new.  In fact, in 2017 Venice banned large cruise ships from using this route and docking in the city.  They now have to dock on the mainland.

All of the photos in this post are from our trip to Italy in 2013.  Google 'Venice flooding' to see current pictures and videos.


16 comments:

  1. As I understand they would prefer tourists stay some days in the city as opposed to the cruise ship sort of stop where they're around for a few hours.

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  2. Interesting post. I wonder if these will be anything like the flood control in The Netherlands.

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  3. Saw a documentary on television about the flooding a few years ago.

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  4. Venice has been playing with fire with flooding for a long time.

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  5. Thanks for sharing Vienna - and those yellow boots!
    Joy

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  6. If I want to hear about world news I listen to CBC or a Canadian news program. US news is so self centered lately. - Margy

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  7. The flooding has always occurred from time to time but is happening more frequently in recent years. And still the man in the White House says there's no such thing as global warming. There is no Trump Hotel in Venice.

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  8. Thanks for sharing those pictures and local news with us.

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  9. Thanks for the Venice pictures. Love the yellow boots! They are just 'ducky'!

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  10. I had not heard of the flooding. I also never saw yellow boots like that before! They must not last very long. :-)

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  11. I saw a program about the flooding awhile back. I always wonder how the buildings stay intact.

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  12. Back again - The situation just made CTV news. Genoa and Venice are a horrible mess

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  13. I really dislike that Viking photo with the huge cruise ship over-towering the lovely architecture of Venice. There is a book (mystery) with Aqua Alta in the title and takes place in Venice. I went once long ago and will not go back if this flooding continues.

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  14. I have missed reading your posts & seeing your wonderful photographs. I am hoping now I am back I will remain so. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful past & present adventures … "Just Me"

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