Venice’s smaller canals have almost totally dried up due to a series of low tides, causing frustration and dissapointment for boat crews and tourists.
A number of ebb tides are the result of a stubborn high-pressure weather system across Italy, according to experts.
In a city where canals work like streets, the unusual drying up has caused challenges for those in the city. In some cases, Ambulance boats have been forced to stop further away from emergencies as they are unable to travel along previously high canals of water. As a result, medical crew have had to carry stretchers by hand across long distances.
Many tourists who have travelled to see the city of canals have been met with small paths full of muck and water puddles. The typical gondola rides that are popular for visitors have also been restricted, as they are unable to go through many of the smaller waterways that go around Venice’s gorgeous bridges.
High atmospheric pressure and a mid-winter lunar cycle were the cause of the extremely low water levels during ‘ebb tide’, environmental scientist Jane Da Mosto told the Associated Press.