updated 12:35 p.m. ET Dec. 23, 2009
ROME - An unusually high tide flooded most of Venice early Wednesday, forcing tourists and residents(居民) to wade through(涉水通过) knee-high waters or take to improvised(临时制作的), elevated(高的) boardwalks(木板铺成的小道) set up in St. Mark's Square and other landmarks.
The waters came in before dawn and reached a peak(至高) of 56.6 inches above average sea level. City authorities said that put around 60 percent of Venice's streets and piazzas(意大利的广场) under water.
Wednesday's level was still far from last year's record 63 inches, Venice's worst flooding in more than two decades.