dam are as old as civilization itself , but it ’s only been within the last century that human race harnessed the twist savvy to make structures that could submerge valleys and make lake . And forget entire towns in the process .
In America alone , engineers have flooded century of now - forgotten town in a bid to create power - generating and saucy piddle - supplying reservoirs . But now , thanks to water shortage make by a changing climate and increasing need , many of the so - called “ cut down townsfolk ” are reemerging , broken and dusty , from the water .
Today , SlateandAtlas Obscuratake us to a small artificial lake at the nothernmost tip of Italy , where an a 700 - year - old belltower peeks above the water . The photos were stimulate to appear into the account of other drowned township — and boy , did we come up a glut of dramatic trope . In fact , submerge towns are so usual , it ’s fair likely you live near a reservoir that ’s conceal the remains of one ( you’re able to check a fond inclination of American instanceshere ) . A few of the most interesting follow .
St. Thomas Beneath Lake Mead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HozlOKcVhsU
There are actually multiple submerge towns dotting Lake Mead , including the most notable , St. Thomas . When droughts drain the 80 - year - old artificial lake , founding and sometimes even walls come forth from the sands .
Vilarinho das Furna
Image viaWikimedia Commons .
Vilarinho das Furnas , a town dating back to Roman times , was submerge by engineers in 1972 . Interestingly , the diminutive community of 300 had been almost forgotten by Portuguese authorities — when it was scouted by engine driver in the early 1970s , they found a residential district governed by an strange communal political organization that some historians speculate dated back to the Visigoth occupation .
The Drowned Church of Potosi
Image viaAtlas Obscuraand Juan Tello onFlickr .
The townsfolk of Potosi , in Táchira , Venezuela , was flooded in 1985 to generate hydroelectric baron for nearby developments . But a water crisis in Venezuela is laying the ruins of the townspeople bare — starting with the church building steeple that once marked its pinnacle .
Old Petrolandia
Images via Andre Estima onFlickr .
Petrolandia is domicile to one of Brazil ’s largest hydroelectric ability flora — during construction , full towns were moved to higher earth . One trace of the old landscape painting still remains : the arches of a Christian church that was give , desert , to the flood lamp .
Campanile Di Curon
range viaAtlas ObscuraandWikimedia Commons .
This 700 - year - old belltower was restored to its original site in 2009 , after the entire village of Curon Venosta was flooded after World War II . In wintertime , you’re able to take the air right up to its walls .
[ hint image good manners ofGoribau ]
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