Low tides in Venice have caused the famous canals to dry up. The reason is the lack of rain, high pressure system, full moon and ocean currents. There were fears that Italy could face another drought, as the Alps received half the normal rainfall. The Independent writes about it.
Due to the low water level, gondolas, water taxis and ambulances are not allowed to use the canals. The annual carnival is also under threat. In 2022, it attracted more than 100,000 tourists.
Alvise Papa, head of Venice’s tidal center, said the last time the water level fell this low was 15 years ago. Usually fluctuations do not exceed 50 centimeters from the average level.
The minimum threshold at which navigation through the canals of Venice remains safe is -60 cm below the average. Now it reaches -65 cm, so the emergency services cannot contact some neighbors in their homes.
“Our operators are often forced to stop cars some distance from their destination and continue on foot, in many cases with a patient to be transported,” Paolo Rosi, head of Venice’s rescue service, told local media. .
Recall that in 2022, the Venice authorities postponed until next summer the introduction of a fee to tourists for a day visit to the city. We talk about it in more detail here.
