Call it the hell of high water. Venice remains threatened by the sea that defines it.
New photos show water levels rising in the tourist destination, forcing tourists and locals to don Wellingtons and ponchos amid the tides. Some visitors wade barefoot through the water.
Local media reports that as much as nine percent of the city is currently underwater.
Workers haven't yet assembled all of the raised walkways the city deploys during some acqua alta events because these tides haven't yet reached a critical level, ANSA reports. Yet some photos show active walkways in St. Mark's Square, probably the city's most famous site.
According to the city, November and December are the most active months for high water, meaning this is probably the first in many floods still to come this season.
Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
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People sit at the table of a bar in a flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St. Mark's Square and other areas under water. Flooding is common this time of year and Sunday's level that reached a peak of 58.66 inches (149 centimeters) was below the 63 inches (160 centimeters) recorded four years ago in the worst flooding in decades. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
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A man enjoys swimming in flooded St. Mark's Square.(AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
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A young man and a woman enjoy swimming in flooded St. Mark's Square.(AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
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A woman walks in high water ner the Rialto Bridge in Venice.(AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
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Tourists walk on footbridges during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the folooding reached 150 centimetres in Venice. (Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk on footbridges during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice. (Marco Sabadin, Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk on footbridges near the Rialto bridge.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A man runs in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta'.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A shoes seller displays wellies outside his shop in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice. (Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A man sits in his shop as tourits walk in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice. (Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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People take a coffee ina flooded shop.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Shoes and wellies float in a flooded shop.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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People walk in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists put on their shoes in front of the Bridge of Sighs.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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People walk in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta'.(Marco Sabadin,Marco Sabadin/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A woman and child play in a flooded St. Mark's Square, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. The high tide reached a peak of 127 centimeters (50 inches) Saturday, flooding the city. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) (credit:AP)
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Tourists walk with plastic bags to protect their shoes on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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This picture shows a general view of the flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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An employee walks on the flooded St Mark's square as he delivers goods during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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This picture shows a general view of the flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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An employee carries a box to deliver on the flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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An employee pushes a trolley on the flooded St Mark's square as he delivers goods during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourist seat a cafe terrace on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk along raised gangways above the flood waters as others wade through the water in flooded St. Mark square as high tides reached 1.05 meters above sea level, partly flooding the city of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) (credit:AP)
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Tourists walk along raised gangways above the flood waters as others wade through the water in flooded St. Mark square as high tides reached 1.05 meters above sea level, partly flooding the city of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) (credit:AP)
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Tourists have to roll up their trousers to wade across the flooded St. Mark square as high tides reached 1.05 meters above sea level, partly flooding the city of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) (credit:AP)
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A tourist sits outside a cafe in flooded St. Mark square as high tides reached 1.05 meters above sea level, partly flooding the city of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) (credit:AP)
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An employee walks on the flooded St Mark's square as he delivers goods during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A tourist carries a suitcase as she walks barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A couple exchange a kiss as they stand barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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Tourists walk barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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People walk with plastic bags to protect their shoes on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A tourists walks barefoot on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A woman runs in water on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A couple plays with water on a flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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A tourist takes pictures on the flooded St Mark's square during the first 'acqua alta' of the season on October 15, 2012 in Venice. The 'acqua alta', a convergence of high tides and a strong sirocco, reached 105 centimeters. AFP PHOTO / ANDREA PATTARO (credit:Getty Images)
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