Venice’s Dry Canals: How Tourism Is Affected by This Development

As seen in the recent photos of Venice, the city’s iconic canals are half-dry and muddier than ever. This has been blamed on the bassa marea or the low tide. Usually used in referring to the sea or less coastal areas, the term takes up a whole new meaning in Venice’s context. Here, it is used to refer to the time when water levels in the city are more than 20 inches lower.

The Bassa Marea

To fully grasp what changes have been taking place in terms of travel, we need to understand why this is taking place. In contrast to bassa marea, the usually heard of acqua alta refers to the city’s high water flooding that takes place when a combination of unusually high tide and low air pressure is witnessed. Bassa marea is a result of high pressure over Italy for almost a month now, with the levels reaching a low of 28 inches below average. Bassa marea is usually a result of high pressure over the winters, generally in January-February.

What’s to Blame?

Dr. Warren Cairns, a senior environmental scientist at Venice’s CNR Institute for Polar Sciences, elaborates on the reason. The coincidence of prolonged high pressure over the country with a low lunar tide has led to abnormally low water levels. This makes the canal dry up and look muddy. Regardless, the Venice canals are seen to be thriving.

The Effect of Tourism

The fluctuations in the water levels naturally hamper travel plans for a city based on water. However, there are provisions for alerts by the transportation company ACTV via apps like Telegram for people to track any traffic or blockages. As for the gondola rides and the classic canal aesthetic photos and vibes, it has been advised to visit during the high tide for more water in the canals. As for the low tides, the rides will be better on the Grand Canal, offering a mesmerizing experience. The low water levels also make it easier for the lesser-known details to be visible, including the carved lion heads around the base of the Bauer Hotel. If looking for attractions other than canals, you must visit the museums and galleries, as well as take a trip on the Venetian public water bus.