Flooded Argentine town re-emerges from lake after 25 years

[Jazzy]

Epecuen, in the farmlands southwest of Buenos Aires, was once a bustling little lakeside resort, where 1,500 people served 20-thousand tourists a season.

During the town's golden age, the same trains that carried grain to the outside world brought visitors from the capital to relax in Epecuen's saltwater baths and spas.

The saltwater lake was particularly attractive because it has 10 times more salt than the ocean, making the water buoyant.

A particularly heavy rainstorm followed a series of wet winters, and the lake overflowed its banks on November 10, 1985.

Water burst through a retaining wall and spilled into the lakeside streets

People fled with what they could, and within days their homes were submerged under nearly 33 feet of corrosive saltwater.

"On the 10th of November at 10 am in the morning the embankment was breached and a very strong southerly wind made that the water began to flood through to the town," said Norma Berg, daughter of German immigrants and a 23-year-old resident of Epecuen when the flood hit in 1985.

For 25 years, the town remained trapped under water but then in 2007 following several years of dry weather the floods began to recede.

The town hasn't been rebuilt, but it has become a tourist destination again for people willing to drive at least six hours from Buenos Aires, along 340 miles of narrow country roads to visit it.

When the floods hit in 1985 there was one resident who refused to leave.

Pablo Novak, now 82, still lives on the edge of the town, welcoming people who wander into the town's crumbled streets.

Pictures

Awesome pictures!

 

[Evil Eye]

Interesting pictures for sure.
Give it another decade or two and I suppose there will be a new town there.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Those are pretty good! I like the 2nd one with the birds flying over the ruins the best.

 

[Crusader]

I shall add this to my places to visit along with Pripyat

 

[Jazzy]

@Nebulous: The first picture reminded me of the picture you posted of San Francisco!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

@Nebulous: The first picture reminded me of the picture you posted of San Francisco!

Yeah a little.

 

[Success]

I shall add this to my places to visit along with Pripyat

I'd quite like to visit Pripyat too.

Really cool pictures, it's be good if they set something up for tourists. Something a little more convenient and friendly.