Venice, Italy.Photo: Luigi Costantini/AP/Shutterstock
Venice’s famous gondolas have been left stuck in the mud amid historic low tides in the Italian city.
The waterways in the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region have been left nearly empty, cutting off access for water ambulances, water taxis and deliveries, according toThe Times.
The low tides had been suggested to be due to a lack of rain and snow, but theBBCreports they can more accurately be attributed to a number of factors including a high pressure system, a full moon and sea currents.
Papa added that low tides were regularly seen in January and February in the city, which is usually concerned with flooding, “but in the last 16 years it has never been as prolonged as this”.
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Venice, Italy.MARCO SABADIN/AFP via Getty
Last weekend, tidal measurements in Venice — home of theVenice International Film Festival— were reportedly more than half a meter (about 1.6 feet) below their normal levels, according to the outlet. Papa said officials are expecting the situation to improve over the next few days as heavy rain is due in the city.
CNNreports that the dry winter has raised concerns that the country could face another drought after a state of emergency was declared last summer in areas surrounding Italy’s longest river, the Po. The drought is estimated to have cost the agriculture sector about €6 billion (or $6.4 billion) in lost production.
The river, which is in the north of the country, reportedly has 61% less water than usual at this time of year, according to theBBC.
Venice, a city built atop more than 100 islands, is most commonly associated with the opposite problem: too much water.
source: people.com
