Venice underwater !!!!
The recent "acqua alta" (high water) in Venice, Italy reached a depth of 1.56 meters (5 ft, 1 in.) on Monday - the deepest flood in 22 years, and the fourth highest flood level in recent history, claimed Venice's Tide Center. The water began to subside on Tuesday, while residents and tourists made their way through the city, hip-waders or not - one man even took the opportunity to ride his wakeboard through Piazza San Marco (until police stepped in). Although this flood was severe enough for the mayor to ask tourists to temporarily stay home, Venetian floods are fairly routine, several occurring every year, and residents usually take it all in stride.
Women sit on a table while water rises in their shoe shop during floods on December 1, 2008 in Venice
Tourists wade through flood waters in a shopping district of Venice, Italy on December 1, 2008.
Tourists take photos of each other in the flooded Piazza San Marco in Venice December 1, 2008. Large parts of Venice were flooded on Monday as heavy rains and strong winds lashed the lagoon city, with sea levels at their highest level in 22 years. Ferry and water taxi services in the city were suspended and Venice's mayor urged people to stay indoors. Tourists and residents struggled to get across the city over raised walkways. The Centro Maree, which forecasts water levels, said sea levels in the Adriatic rose 1.56 meters (5.1 ft) - a level not seen since 1986.
Shopkeepers block the entrance of their shop with a wood panel as water rises in the streets of Venice on December 1, 2008.
People wade through high water near a canal bridge in Venice, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
Men share a drink on a flooded plaza near the Rialto bridge on December 1, 2008 in Venice.
Duncan Zuur of the Netherlands rides a wakeboard across flooded Piazza San Marco in Venice, December 2, 2008.
Duncan Zuur of the Netherlands rides a wakeboard along a canal next to flooded St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy on December 2, 2008.
ustomers stand in flood waters in a pastry shop in Venice December 1, 2008. Tourists and residents struggled to get across the city over raised walkways. The Centro Maree, which forecasts water levels, said sea levels in the Adriatic rose 1.56 meters (5.1 ft)
A woman waits for a boat during floods on December 1, 2008 in Venice. Authorities in the Italian city of Venice issued a flood alert, warning that the sea was due to rise 1.60 meters above its normal level, the highest for 30 years. Nearly all the streets of the city, including the central tourist district were already under water by mid-morning with the famous Piazza San Marco by 80 centimeters (two feet, seven inches)
A view of Piazza San Marco and the Doge's Palace (right) taken during floods on December 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy.
A view of a flooded Piazza San Marco, with St. Mark's Basilica in the background, in Venice, northern Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008.
A view of a flooded dock area of Venice
A postman carries envelopes through flood waters in Venice
A man walks on a flooded quay of Venice
A man wades through the Piazza San Marco during floods
man stands on a boat at Piazza San Marco during floods on December 1, 2008 in Venice
A gondola passes through flood waters near Rialto Bridge on December 2, 2008 in Venice, Italy
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