Gondolas in trouble in Venice

@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
February 23, 2023 7:06am CST
I heard about the gondolas in Venice having trouble navigating the famous canals due to very low water levels. There are several factors causing the problem. Low tides seem to be the main cause but lack of rain, a high-pressure weather system and a full moon are contributing factors which, over time, have resulted in low water levels. Concerns are held that the city could face another major drought, making it the second in two years. We stayed two nights in Venice some years ago and of course were fascinated by the gondolas. I hadn’t realised that they are used for a number of purposes other than just carting tourists around. Mail is delivered by gondola, garbage is collected as is laundry from various accommodation places. They also serve as taxis and ambulances. The photo is mine taken from our hotel window. The gondoliers were very clever in manoeuvring their craft round tight corners while simultaneously avoiding collision with other boats.
16 people like this
17 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
23 Feb 23
That really sounds odd, considering that Venice is on an island and is slowly sinking. Uhm... I'm just curious... How bad did the water in the canals smell?
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
23 Feb 23
@JudyEv Judy the water of the canals is NOT sea water, the canals are rivers. Right now there is a terrible drought in the North of Italy (and HERE in the south of Switzerland). Italy plan to impose water restriction to 3.5 million people.
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DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
23 Feb 23
@JudyEv The canals are connected to the Adriatic Sea so unless the sea is getting low on water, I don't see how the canals can be. (Wiki says the canals are connected to the swamp surrounding the island and the swamp is connected to the sea. It sounds like the same difference to me.)
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 23
I don't really understand how the canals can be so low. I thought it was all connected to the sea. I do understand the tidal effect. Some of the canals did smell a bit off, for sure.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
23 Feb 23
It does not rain from months in the north of Italy, t's not only Venice that suffers. The Lake Garda is so low that you can reach a small island walking.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
24 Feb 23
@JudyEv We had almost no rain the past year and this year is not better, we are seriously concerned.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
Australia often has droughts in parts of the country but this year it's been just the opposite.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 23
@LadyDuck I must admit I never used to think about Europe having droughts.
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
23 Feb 23
This was in the news yesterday I was there a few years ago and had a water bus experience.
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
24 Feb 23
@JudyEv I found the canal water dirty and so abstained from taking that ride. Talking about rides in canals I took that ride in Amsterdam and once in the guide tells us how dirty the water was. (lol)
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
@allknowing I guess you were trapped by then. It wasn't very diplomatic of him though.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
We went on a water bus too but not a gondola.
rakski
@rakski (156200)
• Philippines
24 Feb 23
that will be awful to have drought
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rakski
@rakski (156200)
• Philippines
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv the weather has been really crazy
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
Parts of Australia often have droughts but lately we seem to have more floods than droughts.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
• London, England
23 Feb 23
I saw some photos from Venice the other day, showing some dry sections of the canals. Guess, at least for this year, they won't have to worry about rising water levels!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
And yet, well, until lately, the talk is all about the famous square going under water from time to time.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
• London, England
27 Feb 23
@JudyEv Yes, I remember that. Sure it won't be long before it is the topic of the moment!
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
24 Feb 23
I heard about this. The canals are quite narrow, aren't they? Great picture. I keep thinking about that skanky water getting lower and more concentrated!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 23
They are very narrow and some of the gondolas had to do three-point turns, so to speak, to get round the corners.
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
25 Feb 23
@JudyEv Interesting. Have a great weekend.
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Sanjeev
@sjvg1976 (42727)
• Delhi, India
25 Feb 23
I heard it in the news. Sadly this is one of the tourist attractions there. What will the people do those who are dependent on gondolas to earn their living?
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 23
It must be very worrying for everyone involved in tourism.
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OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
25 Feb 23
I wouldnt like to be depending on a gondola to get me to hospital
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 23
True. Maybe they're just used for patient transfers.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Feb 23
I knew they were used for a lot of things as that is an easy way to get around there. Hard to believe the water is getting that low
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Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Feb 23
@JudyEv I have never been there. But know it has a lot of water everywhere
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
It's about the only way to get around. I can't remember if there were any bikes or lambrettas but perhaps there were.
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MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
23 Feb 23
That's a great picture. Wow I didn't even think about water levels and the problems the gondolas are facing. I guess I just assumed they were for tourists and didn't even consider they would be instrumental in other things.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
It was a bit strange to see a gondola loaded up with great bundles of laundry!
JB_girl
@sol_cee (38669)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Oh my, this is inevitable
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
Australia is used to drought. I don't know how often it happens in Venice.
DianneN
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
23 Feb 23
I heard that, too. One of my favorite things to do in Venice besides eating and shopping were the gondola rides.
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DianneN
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
24 Feb 23
@JudyEv Not now for sure!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
I'm sure they're great fun and very relaxing I would say. It's not like there are a lot of waves! lol
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Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Feb 23
Venice is a fascinating city. I'm sure it takes expertise to maneuver a gondola in tight quarters like that. I'm sorry the tide is low causing trouble right now.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 23
I'd like to go back one day. We didn't see very much in the limited time we had.
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Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Feb 23
@JudyEv I hope you can.
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John nyambegera
@thebos (5960)
• Kisumu, Kenya
23 Feb 23
Has it ever rained ?
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 23
I think most years it rains quite a lot but the last few years they've had less rain.
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John nyambegera
@thebos (5960)
• Kisumu, Kenya
2 Mar 23
@JudyEv what might be the problem
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BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Feb 23
Gondolas as ambulances? How fast can those guys paddle? I know, I know, it's probably the motorised ones.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
Good point. At least they wouldn't have to slow down for speed humps.
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snowy
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
23 Feb 23
I really hope I make it to Venice before I die and can take one of those rides. Las Vegas has gondolas in the Venetian resort, and I did ride in those one time. That is surprising about he gondolas though considering that sea levels are rising.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
I guess the canals aren't that deep as the guys just use poles to go where they want to go.
M Cheung
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
23 Feb 23
I read the news that some parts of Europe is experiencing a winter draught. Venice is a beautiful city. I've visited there once.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 23
It is certainly beautiful with a lot to see and do.
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