35 Mysterious Abandoned Places Around the World You Can Still Visit

18. Villa Epecuén, Argentina: The Town That Drowned

In the early 20th century, Villa Epecuén blossomed into a sought-after health resort in Argentina, famed for the therapeutic properties of its salt-rich lake. At its zenith, the town welcomed thousands of visitors annually, with elegant hotels, spas, and markets bustling along its tree-lined avenues. But in 1985, tragedy struck when a prolonged period of heavy rains caused a nearby dam to rupture, releasing the lake’s saline waters and submerging the entire town under more than 30 feet of water. For nearly 25 years, Villa Epecuén remained submerged, hidden from view and presumed lost forever. When the waters finally receded in the early 2000s, they revealed a ghostly ruin of salt-bleached buildings, rusting playgrounds, and petrified trees—a surreal landscape frozen in devastation. Today, the skeletal remains of the town attract photographers, urban explorers, and those fascinated by the destructive force of nature. Villa Epecuén serves as both a haunting memorial and a powerful reminder of nature’s ability to both heal and consume.