Can you imagine Venice without its iconic waters? After a winter of low snow and rainfall, a record low level tide of -62 centimetres above mean sea level has emptied some of the ancient city's 150 canals. This has stranded some boats and gondolas and complicated emergency and essential services.
Last summer, Northern Italy announced a state of emergency after the region's rivers and lakes faced the most severe droughts in over 70 years.
From quick hits to deep dives, this Mashable series cuts through the noise to explain what on Earth is going on and what you should know about it.
