There is a lot of talks these days about High Water in Venice after the dramatic events with exceptionally high tides and damages.

During my stay in Venice, I have witnessed several “Acqua Alta” none of them created (major) damages, few some disruptions mainly for residents, a couple for sure extra work and lot of worries for shop-owners, staff and residents living on ground floors.

“L'acqua alta era pittoresca, Ora è una maledizione” cit. Berengo Gardin

These are some of my favourites images I took.

Generally Venice only has high water in Autumn and Winter and even then it is not every day that the streets are flooded. However, when a higher than usual tide is expected in the city, sirens blare to warn the population so that they can prepare themselves. Maps, as posted at the boat stops, showing alternative pedestrian routes around the city that are equipped with special footbridges to avoid the high water and to reach the main parts of Venice.

Level of tide and % of Venice that is flooded less than 80 cm o0.

Normal tide at 100 cm 4%

at 110 cm 12%

An emergency sound alert the Venetian at 120 cm 35%

at 130 cm 70%

at 140 cm 90%

The causes of the tides are the following: - astronomic: the attraction of the sun and the moon cause the regular rise and fall of the water: "6 hours rise and 6 hours fall". You, therefore, have two maximums and two minimums a day. - meteorological: a strong south-east wind ("scirocco") may cause the tide to increase by as much as 1 meter. - geographical: the seiche is a sort of long wave that runs through the whole of the Adriatic Sea with a period of approximately 22 hours.