This Spanish ghost village was underwater for 30 years. Photos show the ruins that emerged due to drought.

Kelsey Vlamis

2022-02-13T02:34:14Z

A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters

The village of Aceredo, Spain, was flooded in 1992 to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir.
Due to drought, the reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing the ruins of the old town.
Tourists – including some who knew it before it was underwater – are now visiting Aceredo.

A near-empty reservoir in Spain has revealed the ruins of Aceredo, a ghost village that has been underwater since 1992.

The village, located on the Spain-Portugal border, was purposefully flooded using a dam in order to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir, Reuters reported.

The ruins of Aceredo are now attracting tourists to the old, muddy streets and dilapidated buildings.

The water level in the Alto Lindoso reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing a village that has been stuck in time, Reuters reported.

The ruins of Aceredo village include partially destroyed buildings and lots of loose debris.

A house is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters

There are signs of life that once occupied the village, including an old cafe, a drinking fountain that is still spewing water, and a rusty car.

The mayor of the area, Maria del Carmen Yanez, said drought and the low levels of rain in recent months were to blame for the low water levels, Reuters reported.

The roof of a house is seen in the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters

She also blamed Portugal's power utility that manages the reservoir, accusing it of "quite aggressive exploitation."

Portugal's power utility told the outlet drought was the cause of the low water level and that they are "efficiently" managing the water resources they control.

A submerged tree is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters

Maximino Perez Romero, a 65-year-old from the area, told Reuters: "It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," adding: "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Jose Alvarez, who worked construction in Aceredo before it was submerged, told the outlet: "It's terrible, but it is what it is. That's life. Some die and others live."

This Spanish ghost village was underwater for 30 years. Photos show the ruins that emerged due to drought.

The water level in the Alto Lindoso reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing a village that has been stuck in time, Reuters reported.

The ruins of Aceredo village include partially destroyed buildings and lots of loose debris.

There are signs of life that once occupied the village, including an old cafe, a drinking fountain that is still spewing water, and a rusty car.

The mayor of the area, Maria del Carmen Yanez, said drought and the low levels of rain in recent months were to blame for the low water levels, Reuters reported.

She also blamed Portugal's power utility that manages the reservoir, accusing it of "quite aggressive exploitation."

Portugal's power utility told the outlet drought was the cause of the low water level and that they are "efficiently" managing the water resources they control.

Maximino Perez Romero, a 65-year-old from the area, told Reuters: "It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," adding: "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Jose Alvarez, who worked construction in Aceredo before it was submerged, told the outlet: "It's terrible, but it is what it is. That's life. Some die and others live."

Tourists are now coming to see the remains of a village that has been inaccessible for decades.

nproxy.org

This Spanish ghost village was underwater for 30 years. Photos show the ruins that emerged due to drought.

The water level in the Alto Lindoso reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing a village that has been stuck in time, Reuters reported.

The ruins of Aceredo village include partially destroyed buildings and lots of loose debris.

There are signs of life that once occupied the village, including an old cafe, a drinking fountain that is still spewing water, and a rusty car.

The mayor of the area, Maria del Carmen Yanez, said drought and the low levels of rain in recent months were to blame for the low water levels, Reuters reported.

She also blamed Portugal's power utility that manages the reservoir, accusing it of "quite aggressive exploitation."

Portugal's power utility told the outlet drought was the cause of the low water level and that they are "efficiently" managing the water resources they control.

Maximino Perez Romero, a 65-year-old from the area, told Reuters: "It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," adding: "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Jose Alvarez, who worked construction in Aceredo before it was submerged, told the outlet: "It's terrible, but it is what it is. That's life. Some die and others live."

Tourists are now coming to see the remains of a village that has been inaccessible for decades.

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