A Drowned Church of Potosi in Venezuela

A Drowned Church of  Potosi in Venezuela

Cities and buildings emerging out of the water may seem like a mystical occurrence, but in the case of the church of Potosi in Venezuela, it was not quite an act of God. The town of Potosi, which had approximately 1,200 residents and was 7.7 square miles, was deliberately flooded by the Venezuelan government in 1985 to build a hydroelectric dam.

Everyone was forced to evacuate, and all houses and the single church were abandoned and submerged under the waters of the Uribante Reservoir, save for the single cross standing atop the church. 

Above: © Juan Tello/Flickr

A Drowned Church of  Potosi in VenezuelaA Drowned Church of  Potosi in VenezuelaA Drowned Church of  Potosi in VenezuelaA Drowned Church of  Potosi in VenezuelaA Drowned Church of  Potosi in VenezuelaA Drowned Church of  Potosi in Venezuelavia [Atlas Obscura, Treehugger, Independent]

All images via Tachira Government unless otherwise stated.