35 Stunning Abandoned Places Around the World You Can Still Visit

19. Villa Epecuén, Argentina: A Town Resurrected from the Water

Once a popular resort destination known for its saltwater baths and therapeutic lake, Villa Epecuén thrived through much of the 20th century, attracting visitors from Buenos Aires and beyond. But in 1985, disaster struck when a dam failed after heavy rains, submerging the town under nearly 10 meters (33 feet) of water. For over two decades, Villa Epecuén remained entombed beneath the salty flood, its fate sealed in silence. In the early 2000s, the waters mysteriously began to recede, revealing a dreamlike wasteland of twisted metal, salt-crusted ruins, and empty boulevards lined with ghostly trees. One lone man returned to live among the remains, becoming a symbol of resilience and memory. Today, the town is a macabre but mesmerizing destination for intrepid travelers, photographers, and urban explorers. The surreal beauty of salt-bleached buildings under the vast Patagonian sky makes Villa Epecuén a haunting testament to nature’s force and the fragility of civilization.