Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding

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Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
People walk on a catwalk in the flooded St.Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in VeniceREUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

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  • Venice, Italy, is facing its annual flooding season. Water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
  • It's high-water season in Venice, meaning that heavy rains and high tides cause the lower parts of the city, including the tourist area of St. Mark's Square, to flood.
  • Many hotels carry rain boots for tourists as preparation during high-water season, which usually lasts from autumn through early spring.
  • City officials also put up wooden catwalks so people can still get across Venice without walking through the floods.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
High-water season is back in Venice, Italy, where tourists and Venetians donned rubber boots and walked on catwalks to avoid being soaked in the historical city's flooded streets on Tuesday.

Venice's tide forecast office told the Associated Press that water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) on Tuesday morning, but the tides were expected to rise overnight.

The city's high water season usually lasts from autumn through early spring. Flooding is most likely to affect the lowest parts of the city, including the tourist area of St. Mark's Square.

When the city floods, water invades homes, businesses, cafes and more. On Tuesday, nursery schools were closed by officials as a precaution.

Forecasts in the region suggest that rain is expected to continue for the next several days, which could mean more floods for the city.
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In the meantime, Venice officials have erected wooden catwalks in severely flooded areas to provide safety for people trying to get from place to place.

Here are photos of Tuesday's flooding, and how residents and tourists alike faced the high tides.

Residents and tourists donned rain boots and carried umbrellas as they walked through the city on catwalks raised on high stilts.

The sea level around Venice has risen by a little more than 10 inches since 1870. At the same time, the land has continued to sink at a rate of 2 to 3 millimeters per year.

Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
People walk on a catwalk in the flooded St. Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

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The phenomenon of high water, locally known as "acqua alta," happens annually in Venice, most often in late autumn through early spring.

Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
One woman carried her daughter on her back as she walked in the flooded St.Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice

Water levels peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (1.27 meters) in some parts of the city on Tuesday morning.

Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
Workers carry platforms across the flooded St.Mark's Square to help tourists and locals get around.

Many hotels provide disposable rain boots to tourists so they can still enjoy the city.

Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
People walk on a catwalk in the flooded St.Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice.

Venice authorities warn people of rising water with a siren that sounds across the city.
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Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
November is considered the off-season for tourism, but many still flock to its canals.

St. Mark's Square was closed to the public while the area faced flooding on Tuesday.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
A view of the flooded St.Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice.

When it's dry, the square is a gathering ground for pigeons, who feast on scraps from tourists.

Despite St. Mark's Square being closed, some people braved the flood waters to get across the city in places without raised catwalks.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

Ducal Palace, a tourist hotspot just off St. Mark's Square, remained open "despite exceptional tide." It urged visitors to use rickety raised walkways to reach it.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
People walk on a catwalk in the flooded St. Mark's Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice.

Tourists visit Venice year-round, even during the "acqua alta" floods.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
Tourists carry their luggage as they wade through water on the occasion of a high tide, in a flooded Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

And Venice is used to the flooding. Many businesses continue their day-to-day activities despite the water.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
People walk down a flooded street during a period of seasonal high water in Venice.

But the saltwater that's been flooding Venice is eroding the foundations of buildings across the historical city.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
Men pour buckets of water out of their restaurant in Venice as the city floods during high water season.

Forecasters said more water is expected overnight on Tuesday. In 2018, 75% of the city was under water because of the annual floods.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
High water In Venice blocks people from walking down stairs.

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The highest "acqua alta" Venice has ever recorded was in November 1966, when floods hit 6 feet, 4 inches (1.94 meters)
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
A worker ties his boat by the Rialto bridge during a period of seasonal high water in Venice.

Venice has been trying to stop the flooding for more than a decade with a $6.5 billion infrastructure project that has been plagued with scandal and criticism.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
Tourists walk in a flooded street during a period of seasonal high water in Venice

The infrastructure plan, called Mose, includes creating a series of underwater barriers that would prevent flooding when the tide hits 43 inches.
Venice is experiencing its most severe flooding in 50 years. Here are 15 photos of the city's extreme flooding
<strong></strong>People walk on catwalks set up on the occasion of a high tide, in a flooded Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

In 2014, Venice's former mayor Giorgio Orsoni was arrested following a corruption scandal over the development of the project. The project is intended to act as a barrier to prevent high waters from encroaching on the city, Corruption and bribery have caused the project to stall out.
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