Environment
Trudging Through 5 Feet of Water? Just a Day in the Life of a Venetian
Flooding has filled the city's romantic streets and squares with water.
The "acqua alta" is nothing all that unusual in Venice. The city is used to periods of flooding, when high tides and heavy rains converge. The Guardian even wrote a piece titled "Venice has the battle against extreme weather down to a fine art." As the photos below show, it's largely true. Though 70 percent of the city is covered in water, life goes on. Tourists have taken to swimming in the plazas. Residents walk on wooden platforms.
Water had reached 58 inches by Sunday. (The record, by the way, is 62 inches, recorded four years ago.) Below, we've pulled together some images from the city, all shot by Reuters stringers. And if you can't get enough, check out the In Focus blog over at The Atlantic.