the coronavirus pandemic has had an unexpected side effect in venice where the normally cloudy canals have transformed into water crystal clear enough to see fish swimming below italys tourism industry came to a screeching halt once the number of coronavirus cases began to spike in the country but those who remain have been posting to social media images of the trafficless canals editors picks 140 dead in us italy coronavirus fatalities continue to soar how coronavirus impacts climate change with emissions reductions its kind of apocalyptic san francisco bay area residents describe coronavirus lockdown swans were seen in the water while dolphins have been spotted swimming in the port however the transparent water isnt so much a sign of better water quality as it is the result of the lack of boat traffic which typically kicks sediment to the surface pierpaolo campostrini the managing director for the consortium for managing scientific research on venice lagoon system told abc news via email more how coronavirus impacts climate change with emissions reductions the low turbidity of the water does not mean cleanliness campostrini said the transparency is due to the absence of sediment resuspension a view shows seaweed in clear waters in a venice canal march 18 2020 as a result of the stoppage of motorboat traffic following the countrys lockdown within the ne show more andrea pattaroafp via getty images the cold temperature of the water also plays a part campostrini said at about 57 degrees fahrenheit there is little synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide which doesnt begin until about 62 degrees fahrenheit clear water is seen in venices canals due to less tourists motorboats and pollution as the spread of the coronavirus disease covid19 continues in venice italy march 18 2020 manuel silvestrireuters its likely that the air quality has improved since every kind of pollutants decreased a lot but a chemical analysis would need to be performed to say so for sure campostrini added more what its like in the venice flood reporters notebook amid the crisis the clear water is a small reprieve for venice which just months ago experienced flooding by the highest tide in more than 50 years causing inestimable damage to the centuriesold city a tourist takes a photo from the flooded embankment by the rialto bridge after an exceptional overnight alta acqua high tide water level nov 13 2019 in venice marco bertorelloafpgetty images more than 35000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed across italy the secondhighest national total behind china according to data compiled by johns hopkins universitys center for systems science and engineering more venice is being flooded by the highest tide in more than 50 years medical facilities in northern italys hardhit lombardy region will soon be unable to help the sick regional governor attilio fontana said wednesday what to know about the coronavirus how it started and how to protect yourself coronavirus explained what to do if you have symptoms coronavirus symptoms tracking the spread in the us