32 Abandoned Cities That Are Slowly Being Reclaimed by Nature

18. Villa Epecuén, Argentina – The Submerged Town That Rose Again

In 1985, a catastrophe unfolded in Villa Epecuén, an Argentine lakeside resort town once brimming with tourists. Known for its mineral-rich waters, which were said to have healing properties similar to the Dead Sea, the town thrived for decades as a bustling holiday destination. Grand hotels, bustling streets, and sunbathers lined the shores of Lago Epecuén, where thousands would visit each year. But in November of that year, a dam holding back the lake’s waters unexpectedly collapsed, unleashing a slow but unstoppable flood that swallowed the entire town. Residents had little time to evacuate as the water levels rose, drowning homes, businesses, and streets under 30 feet of corrosive, salty water. For decades, the town remained submerged, a lost city beneath the waves, its fate sealed by nature’s quiet dominance. Then, in the early 2000s, something extraordinary happened. The lake began to recede, revealing what was left of Villa Epecuén. What emerged was a ghostly, salt-bleached landscape, unlike anything else on Earth. Buildings that had once housed lively crowds now stood as skeletal ruins, their surfaces eroded and crystallized by decades of immersion. Entire streets were covered in a thick, white layer of salt, creating an eerie, post-apocalyptic scene.