How deep are the canals?
 

In Venice? <BR>Another question:<BR>If you are in a little gondola on the Grand Canal and the big boats and taxis are all around, won't you capsize?<BR>I am afraid of being on water, but want to experience a gondola ride. Am I being silly? <BR>

Mary,<BR><BR>Not certain of the depth of the canals. However the water taxis and other craft do not create enough wake to tip over the gondolas. <BR><BR>Remember also that the water cannot be too deep as the gondolas are moved forward with poles held by the gondolier.<BR><BR>Even in the Grand Canal, unless right in the large area in front of the Piazza San Marcos,you are very close to the edge in the unlikely event of a tip over.<BR><BR>IMHO, while you are afraid of the water, there really is little to be concernd with.<BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>US

Um I've watched the gondoliers, and they don't use the poles to push, they use them to paddle. They are oars. Unless I'm both crazy and blind hehe, that's what I saw.<BR><BR>And there are strict speed limit laws (so as to prevent wakes that can damage the building/island foundations). No worries about getting tipped over. You'll see when you get there, the water is very calm.

A &quot;google&quot; search said that the &quot;mean depth&quot; (average) was 2.7m.<BR>Regards, Walter

<BR><BR>The website below, &quot;History of Gondolas&quot;, says that the average depth of the canals in Venice is 12 feet and that the Grand Canal has an average depth of 9 feet.<BR><BR>http://www.gondolaservizio.com/infor...y/gondola2.htm

What an interesting site, thanks!

<BR><BR>Prego.

The Grand Canal is not the best for a gondola ride. Too much traffic, too choppy. The best routes for a gondola are the smaller, less travelled canals where the vaporettos don't or can't go. Use a vaporetto to tour the Grand Canal. Use the gondola to see parts of Venice you cannot see any other way.

Has anyone heard of a gondola tipping over?<BR><BR> I would think of another thing, don't drunks fall into the canals if there are no railings? <BR><BR>I assume the edge of the canals are right off the walkways, right?<BR><BR>Just asking.

I am sure they dont tip over.

Norma, if you and your significant other are built like the average American, I'd be more concerned about the &quot;wheelie&quot; that your boat will pop when you and Earl put your double-cheeseburger, suprsized behinds in the seat.

That is a funny image you brought up, thanks for the laugh, Mr. Simmons.

When I was there a couple years ago they were working on one of the canals and had dewatered a section of it. The depth looked to be about ten feet, as others have indicated. The exposed mud had quite an aroma, to say the least.<BR><BR>Classy response to the boor, Norma.

Topping for the lawyer.

thanks sea urchin