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The water in Venice, Italy's canals is running clear amid the COVID-19 lockdown — take a look

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The Grand Canal is seen as the Italian government prepares to adopt new measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in Venice, Italy, March 8, 2020.
Manuel Silvestri | Reuters

The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled Italy and is ricocheting its way around the globe. But amid the fear and sickness, Italy's country-wide quarantine has had at least one uplifting consequence: Venice's usually dark, murky waterways have turned noticeably more clear. 

"The water now looks clearer because there is less traffic on the canals, allowing the sediment to stay at the bottom," a spokesman the Venice mayor's office told CNN.

While the water quality is not improved, according to the spokesperson, the air quality likely is.

"The air, however, is less polluted since there are less vaporetti [canal boats] and boat traffic than usual because of the restricted movement of residents," he told CNN. 

Take a look at the empty canals and the clear water. 

Clear water is seen in Venice's canals due to less tourists, motorboats and pollution, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Venice, Italy, March 18, 2020.
Manuel Silvestri | Reuters
A view shows clearer waters by a gondola in a Venice canal on March 17, 2020 as a result of the stoppage of motorboat traffic, following the country's lockdown within the new coronavirus crisis.
Andrea Pattaro | Getty Images
A view shows seaweed in clear waters in Venice on March 18, 2020 as a result of the stoppage of motorboat traffic, following the country's lockdown within the new coronavirus crisis.
Andrea Pattaro | Getty Images
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