Where has all the water gone? Unusually low tide makes Venice’s famous canals look like muddy ditches thanks to the anticyclonic wind system over the city

An unusual low tide on Venice’s waterways is turning the city’s world-famous canals into ditches, leaving gondolas and water taxis in a sea of ​​mud.

The brightly colored boats lie empty at their moorings while the city’s romantic waterways are reduced to a suffocating quagmire.

According to the Italian media, the heavy floods significantly disrupted daily life.

Water buses and other vehicles are unable to navigate the city’s shallow canals for days, while water ambulances remain grounded and unable to reach those in need.

The low water also caused large fish kills and exposed the old foundations of many buildings.

Boats lie empty at their moorings as the city’s waterways have become a quagmire

The bizarre water levels also disrupted the city’s carnival, which drew more than 100,000 tourists to the city who are now unable to navigate the historic canals.

Officials said the water level in Venice had fallen to 26 centimeters below mean sea level.

Alvise Papa of the Tide Forecasting Center told local media: “It’s been at least 15 years since we’ve recorded such a long duration.”

In 2005, the water level remained more than 20 inches below sea level for 48 hours.

Venice has long been a major tourist attraction due to its famous canals. In the photo: Before the water level dropped

The low water also caused large fish kills and exposed the old foundations of many buildings

The bizarre water levels have also disrupted the city’s carnival, which attracts more than 100,000 tourists who are now unable to navigate the historic canals

Officials said the water level in Venice had fallen to 26 centimeters below mean sea level

Weather experts blame an anticyclonic wind system temporarily hanging over the city for the phenomenon.

The high pressure area hanging over northern Italy has also led to smog in the cities of the Po Valley and is putting pressure on agriculture.

Venice’s canals are expected to remain dry until at least February 21.

Weather experts blame the lack of water in the canals on an anticyclonic wind system temporarily trapped over the city

Venice’s canals are expected to remain dry until at least February 21

Until the water level returns, boats – the main mode of transport – cannot be used