Visit Venice canal experiences high and low tides.
Indeed, it may seem surprising, but canals sometimes run dry.
Today, I'm going to tell you more about this phenomenon.
Canal Venise: article summary
- High and low tides on the canal in Venice
- What are the consequences of extremely low tides?
- How long does aqua bassa last?
- What are the different "tidal" heights?
- How deep have the tides been in Venice in recent years?
- What does the Venice canal look like at low tide?
- What was the largest acqua bassa ever recorded in Venice?
High and low tides on the canal in Venice
Many people know that Venice can be flooded. But did you know that Venice can also be hit... by extremely low tides?
Flooding is a natural phenomenon in which a particularly high tide, known as "acqua alta", inundates certain areas of the city for a few hours. The higher the tide, the more areas of the city will be affected.
Extreme low tides, called "acqua bassaare also a natural phenomenon in Venice, usually in winter.
What are the consequences of extremely low tides?
Low tides don't cause as many problems as extremely high tides, as they don't impact residents' homes or stores. However, they do pose certain inconveniences for locals and tourists alike.
The main problem with extremely low tides is that boats can no longer navigate a number of canals.
This means that boats, ambulances and fire departments can no longer reach certain parts of the city. In case of emergency, it can be a serious problem!
How long does aqua bassa last?
Like acqua alta, acqua bassa lasts for a few hours, until the tide comes back in. Usually, low tides are scheduled in advance and the public is warned. so that the latter can make the necessary arrangements.
What are the different "tidal" heights?
Venice's tidal center, Centro Previsioni e Segnalazioni Maree, labels tides according to their height above mean sea level.
The different categories and relative heights are :
- Exceptional high tide : equal to or greater than +1.40 m
- Very High Tide : from +1.10 to +1.39m
- High tide : from +0.80 to +1.09 m
- Normal tide : from - 0.50 to +0.79 m
- Tide below normal level : from -0.51 to -0.90 m
- Exceptional low tides : below -0.90 m
How deep have the tides been in Venice in recent years?
Since 2016, Venice has experienced low tides every year, particularly between December and January.
In 2016, the acqua bassa reached a record -66 cm below mean sea level. In 2017, -52 cm, and in 2018 another -65 cm.
More recently, tides were as low as -50 cm in 2020, -55 cm at the end of January 2022 and -70 cm by 2023.
What does the Venice canal look like at low tide?
Venice's canals have an average depth of 2 to 3 meters, but narrower canals are often much shallower.
On low-tide days, the water can be so low that some small canals end up completely dry. Even some of the larger channels can become too shallow for large boats motorized.
As a result, the transport of people and goods may be altered or interrupted, with a temporary impact on many of the city's businesses, that depend on waterways.
What was the largest acqua bassa ever recorded in Venice?
The lowest "acqua bassa" ever recorded in Venice was -1.21 m. This occurred on February 14, 1934.
When there is high atmospheric pressure over the Venice lagoon area, water from the sea is "pushed" towards areas of lower atmospheric pressure.
Low tides were very common in past centuries. Today, they occur less frequently: before the acqua bassa of December 2016, the last recorded low tide took place in 2008, 8 years earlier.
The Venice canal as much at high tide as low. If you visit the city in winterchances are you'll come across gifts that are completely empty of water.
Don't worry, this condition is natural and the town doesn't suffer from any disasters. In the event of low tide during your visit, all you have to do is visit the town on foot, and you'll be on your way. discover all the wonders this place has to offer.
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