Photos of Venice Underwater: The Highest Tide in 50 Years - The Atlantic

Venice Underwater: The Highest Tide in 50 Years

Yesterday, strong winds and rainstorms pushed water levels in Venice, Italy, to the second-highest levels ever recorded. The high-water mark hit 74 inches (187 centimeters), just short of the record set in 1966. This exceptional acqua alta has flooded businesses and historic structures, sank boats, and been blamed for one death so far.

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  • A photographer stands in Piazza San Marco after the passage of the exceptional high tide in Venice, Italy, that peaked at 74 inches (187 centimeters) on November 12, 2019.

    Stefano Mazzola / Awakening / Getty
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  • Rising waters are pictured in a canal during an extreme high tide in Venice on November 12, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • The flooded Piazza San Marco, with Saint Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower, is photographed in Venice on November 12, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • A stranded ferry lies on its side in Venice on November 13, 2019.

    Luigi Costantini / AP
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  • People stand inside a flooded café on the occasion of a high tide in Venice on November 12, 2019.

    Luca Bruno / AP
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  • A woman sweeps water away from the door of a flooded shop in Venice on November 13, 2019.

    Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
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  • A water taxi that was carried by the water into the street after a night of record-high water levels is seen in Venice on November 13, 2019.

    Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
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  • A room in the flooded Gritti Palace, in Venice, is pictured on November 12, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • A woman crosses the flooded Piazza San Marco by Saint Mark's Basilica early on November 13, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • A firefighter in scuba gear wades through water, past a flooded car, in Venice on November 13, 2019.

    Vigili del Fuoco via Reuters
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  • Partially submerged boats in Venice, Italy, on November 13, 2019

    Luigi Costantini / AP
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  • People walk on an elevated walkway in the flooded Piazza San Marco on November 12, 2019.

    Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
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  • A general view shows the Doge's Palace (left) overlooking the flooded Piazza San Marco, the Lion of Saint Mark winged bronze statue (center), gondolas, and the Venetian Lagoon (background) after an exceptional overnight high tide, on November 13, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • A tourist pushes her floating luggage in the flooded Piazza San Marco on November 13, 2019.

    Luca Bruno / AP
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  • A flooded shop, photographed during a night of exceptional high water in Venice, on November 13, 2019

    Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
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  • Phone cases float in a flooded shop after the passage of an exceptional high tide on November 12, 2019.

    Stefano Mazzola / Awakening / Getty
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  • A shopkeeper pumps water from a flooded shop in Venice on November 12, 2019.

    Stefano Mazzola / Awakening / Getty
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  • A woman sits in a chair in the flooded Piazza San Marco on November 13, 2019.

    Luca Bruno / AP
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  • A view inside the flooded Saint Mark's Basilica, photographed on November 13, 2019

    Simone Padovani / Awakening / Getty
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  • The flooded crypt of Saint Mark's Basilica is pictured on November 13, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • Men work in the flooded crypt of Saint Mark's Basilica during exceptionally high water levels in Venice on November 13, 2019.

    Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
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  • A view shows the flooded Piazza San Marco early on November 13, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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  • People wade through water in Piazza San Marco on November 13, 2019.

    Luca Bruno / AP
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  • Artwork by the street artist Banksy that portrays a migrant child wearing a life jacket and holding a neon-pink flare is pictured after an exceptional overnight acqua alta in Venice, on November 13, 2019.

    Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty
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