Newsflash: 80% of Venice Under Water
Nov 1st, 2004, 01:36 PM
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Newsflash: 80% of Venice Under Water
More than a foot of water is covering St. Mark's Square in the heart of Venice. Officials said about 80 percent of the city is underwater.
Officials have put out raised wooden walkways in some areas to help people get around. At least one person took the matter in his own hands and canoed through the city.
Venice's boat public transportation system suspended service for about one hour and some stores called to report water damage as a result of the flooding.
Officials have put out raised wooden walkways in some areas to help people get around. At least one person took the matter in his own hands and canoed through the city.
Venice's boat public transportation system suspended service for about one hour and some stores called to report water damage as a result of the flooding.
Nov 1st, 2004, 01:46 PM
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Nov 1st, 2004, 01:52 PM
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http://www.turnto10.com/news/3877549/detail.html
Good one, Ira! I can compare it only b/c I did experience Frances and Jeanne. But I didn't have any flooding! I will have to defer to someone else.
Good one, Ira! I can compare it only b/c I did experience Frances and Jeanne. But I didn't have any flooding! I will have to defer to someone else.
Nov 1st, 2004, 02:04 PM
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It sounded like this "acqua alta" was fairly high; do be aware these 'high water' episodes will happen from now through next few months however they usually only last for several hours, receding with the tides. Several elements such as rain/wind/moon phase are factors in their occurence.
Nov 1st, 2004, 02:10 PM
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Two pictures:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ven10210311914
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ven10110311915
What is happening today, though? That was yesterday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ven10210311914
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ven10110311915
What is happening today, though? That was yesterday.
Nov 2nd, 2004, 09:23 AM
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When we visitied Venice several years ago there was PART of a day when people were wading in their high boots. This happens frequently and the city and residents are prepared for it. It lasts a short time. I would say that headline was sensational (surprise!) It does not mean that 80% of Venice was totally COVERED with water. A foot high for several hours is not something they have not seen before.
Nov 2nd, 2004, 10:19 AM
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I was there last week. Sunday (Halloween) was pretty bad. Water was about a foot high in a lot of places. The boat service was stopped for about an hour. It was so chaotic (yesterday was a holiday in Italy and elsewhere in Europe so lots of Europeans were around for a long weekend in Venice) and Italian cities are so disorganized that it was actually quite funny. If that had been my only day in Venice I might have been unhappy but being there for a week, it wasn't that big of a deal. Lots of people walked around barefoot but the water is pretty dirty so that wasn't an appealing option for me. Anyway, there was aqua alta a few other days last week but mostly the streets immediately surrounding the Grand Canal and San Marco would flood and by noon or so, the water would be drained. You can buy boots (like Wellingtons) for about $10-15 and wade through. Otherwise there are platforms. Not ideal for sight seeing but it is an experience. If you are headed to venice soon I wouldn't bring any great shoes or pants since you might get wet and will probably end up rolling up your pants. Matching socks are also good!
