The Town That Was Buried Underwater For 25 Years (20 Pics)

By | October 16, 2015

This is Villa Epecuen, an old tourist village in Argentina that spent a quarter of a century underwater. Established in the 1920s along the shore of a salt lake, this small town thrived for several decades and, peaking in the 1970s, was home to over 5,000 residents and nearly 300 businesses.

 
Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-16

 
In 1985, the salt lake began to swell. Eventually the dam burst, burrying the town under 33 feet (10 meters) of salt water. At first, people waited on their roofs for the water to recede. It didn’t, and within two days the town became a modern-day Atlantis.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-4

 
In 2009, the waters began to recede and what emerged resembles an apocalyptic world.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-1

 
From the air, the layout of the streets, homes and businesses of Villa Epecuen are still visible

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-2

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-3

 
The outlines of Villa Epecuen, still partially flooded by lake water. Photo taken on May 4, 2011.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-5

 
The former slaughterhouse of Villa Epecuen, among a line of long-dead trees still standing, photo taken on May 4, 2011.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-6

A view down a former street among the ruins of Villa Epecuen, Argentina.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-7

 
Rusty bedframes poke out of the rubble of a building. Photo taken on May 3, 2011.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-10

 
A staircase leading to nowhere.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-11

 
Dead trees, killed by the influx of salt water. Photo taken on May 3, 2011

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-12

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-14

 
A vehicle after more than 25 years of being immersed in salt water. Photo taken on May 3, 2011

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-13

 
Evenly-spaced dead trees still line what used to be the town streets.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-18

 
Sign posts that point to nowhere.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-19

 
Jumbled ruins of the formerly submerged Villa Epecuen in Argentina. Photo taken on May 11, 2011.

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-8

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-9

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-15

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-20

 
Amazingly, one man chose to remain in this desolate place. Pablo Novak was the only resident who didn't leave his hometown when the water flooded it in 1985. I guess there’s no place like home…

Ruins-of-Villa-Epecuen-17

H/T: TheAtlantic | MessyNessyChic