Acqua alta, or “high water” is a natural seasonal phenomenal in Venice, Italy during which the high tide partially floods the city. When it happens, the episode of acqua alta is transitory, and after a few hours, the water has withdrawn entirely from where it was not supposed to be.
As every other city, Venice is not built exactly all at the same level. The Santa Marta neighborhood is 2-4 meters above the average sea level, therefore the percentage of the city being flooded depends on how high the acqua alta is.
“Ramo” means “branch”. “They are called branches,” says Berlan, “those narrow streets that branch off from a major road and spread out like branches from a tree.” This designation is often found combined with others, as we see in case of Ramo dei Secchi.
“Secchere” or “Secchi” are those places that, being covered by water during the high tide, remain dry during the low tide. This phenomenon is believed to have occurred in these locations in ancient times.
