The 57% of Venice is Flooded, 12/11/2019 – VIDEO+PHOTOS
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Tourists and Venetians alike have donned high boots and taken to temporary raised walkways to slosh through the high water that has hit much of the lagoon city.
Veniceβs tide forecast office said the water level peaked at 1.27 meters on Tuesday morning but warned that an even higher tide was forecast for after nightfall. The high water invaded cafes, stores, and other businesses. Sirens warned people in Venice of the rising water, and as a precaution, authorities closed nursery schools.
A top tourist attraction, the Ducal Palace, just off St Markβs Square, tweeted that it was βopen today, despite the exceptional tideβ, and advised visitors to use the raised walkways. Many hotels keep disposable knee-high plastic boots handy for tourists. Venetiansβ wardrobes often include over-the-knee boots.
The high water, known locally as βacqua altaβ, was amusing for tourists and a nuisance for residents going about their business, but levels were far lower than the 1.94 meters (6ft 4in) in the devastating November 1966 flood.
But even lower levels of the salty high water over the years take their toll on the city, eroding foundations of homes, businesses and city buildings. Bad weather is continuing to dog Italy, with no real let-up forecast for several days.
Acclaimed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, turned his 56 years with a βspecialβ celebration in Australia, is featured in the latest album of a music legend, Barbra Streisand.