At one point the water in the central part of Venice was 1.56m above sea level 海平面. It hasn't been that high since 1986. Venice gets regular flooding 水灾 at this time of year but this was the fourth deepest on record.

Dozens of homes and businesses were inundated 淹没. Scores 数十人 of people had to move out, though there are no reports of serious injuries.

With mopping up 清整 still underway, the authorities say they don't yet know the final cost of repairs 修理. They've appealed to the government for money from a special fund 专款/资金 to help in the clear-up.

The all-time record for high water was in 1966 when it reached nearly two metres. The city then suffered widespread 遍及各地的 and devastating 灾难性的 flooding.

Since then, there have been a number of attempts to make flood protection more permanent.

The latest and most ambitious 野心勃勃的 solution is what is known as the Moses Project: 78 floodgates 防洪门 are being built at the three main inlets 入口/水湾 to the lagoon 环礁湖/泻湖 that Venice is set around. About 40% are complete, though the city has again asked for the scheme to be speeded up 加速 ahead of its planned 2012 completion.

Much more immediately, with 1000 cancellations in the past 24 hours, hotels have started offering discount packages 优惠（促销）产品 which include a free pair of fishermen-style wading boots 胶皮雨靴.