Acqua Alta "Acqua alta" (high water) is a phenomenon which generally takes place in Venice in winter time, when a combination of astronomical tide, strong south wind (scirocco) and seiche (see glossary below) can cause a larger inflow of water into the Venetian Lagoon.
How long does an aqua alta last? High water depends on the tide cycle (the alternation of high and low tides happens every 6 hours): when there is "acqua alta" on the streets this lasts only a few hours during the peak of the high tide (usually 3 to 4 hours). Once water goes down again, things go back to normality.
Does Venice completely go under water when "acqua alta" occurs? No, only exceptional high waters affect the whole town and even on those occasions the water-line is really remarkable only in the lowest areas. These are the flooding rates of the town in relation to high water levels (measured on the mareographic zero): +100 cm: 3,56%; +110 cm: 11,74%; +120 cm: 35,18%; +130 cm: 68,75%; over +140 cm 90% of the town is covered by water.
"Acqua alta" is not a dangerous phenomenon: it is important to understand that most of the time high tides cause very limited inconvenience to Venetians and tourists. In these cases, the only thing to do is to be patient and wait a few hours for the following ebb. Otherwise, a suggestion for the most curious people is to buy a pair of boots and visit the town in a quite unusual way.
What to do in Venice when there is "acqua alta"? "Acqua alta" is not a dangerous phenomenon: it is important to understand that most of the time high tides cause very limited inconvenience to Venetians and tourists. In these cases, the only thing to do is to be patient and wait a few hours for the following ebb. Otherwise, a suggestion for the most curious people is to buy a pair of boots and visit the town in a quite unusual way.
Official link to Institutional Center for Study of Weather and monitoring of high water in Venice Source : Comune di Venezia
Pellestrina Island
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Pellestrina Island is a strip of land about 11 km length to the south island of the Lido of Venice. The island is covered by a paved road that goes to the landing, S. Maria del Mare (North) to Pellestrina (South) located opposite the cemetery from which by a dirt road that ends in the nature reserve forest of Ca 'Roman.
