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24 March 2013

Haunting Images Of Churches Across The World That Were 'Drowned' To make Way For Man-made Dams And Reservoirs (Photo Essay)



Set in stone: Church of Old Petrolandia, Brazil, is the only thing left standing after the town was moved to make way for a dam


Set in stone: Church of Old Petrolandia, Brazil, is the only thing left standing after the town was moved to make way for a dam



By Snejana Farberov


Rising from ponds, lakes and man-made reservoirs like vestiges of an ancient civilization, submerged churches in Europe, Asia and South America have been drawing tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the decaying beauty before it is consumed by water.

The water-logged religious sites, some of them dating back to the Middle Ages, still could be seen peeking out of bodies of water in such far-flung places as Russia and India, Italy and Brazil.

Constantly assaulted by water and wind currents, the temples that once welcomed the faithful for prayer display their weathered, crumbling facades and once exquisite masonry to the world as testaments to man's hubris.

The Church of St. Nicholas in Mavrovo, Macedonia, was built in 1850 and stood for a 153 years until it was decided to create an artificial lake in the village. But it keeps reappearing.

At Karnataka, India, the Holy Rosary Church emerges and sinks beneath the waters every year since the construction of a dam in the area in 1960.

The Church of Krokhino, in the former village of Vologda Oblast, Russia, was built in the 15th century, but was flooded after the soviets decided to erect a hydroelectric plant.

The Reschensee is a 72-feet artificial lake near the border between Italy and Austria that completely submerged the village of Graun and its church in 1950, except for the 14th century bell tower, which continues to stand today.

According to a local legend, the church bells can still be heard during winter when the lake freezes over, according to the blog Environmental Graffiti

In Potosi, Venezuela, the cross of a local church is all that remains of the town that was deserted by its inhabitants when the government made plans to build the La Honda dam.

In a similar scenario, the Church of Old Petrolandia in Brazil is the only thing left standing after the town was moved to make way for a dam.

However, some of the submerged churches have a way of rising from their watery graves, like the Holy Rosary church which remerges after the monsoon season.      


Submerged temple: The church of St. Nicholas in Mavrovo, Macedonia, was built in 1850 and stood for a 153 years until it was decided to create an artificial lake in the village

Submerged temple: The church of St. Nicholas in Mavrovo, Macedonia, was built in 1850 and stood for a 153 years until it was decided to create an artificial lake in the village 



Decaying beauty: Holy Rosary Church at Karnataka, India, emerges and sinks beneath the waters every year since the construction of a dam in the area in 1960

Decaying beauty: Holy Rosary Church at Karnataka, India, emerges and sinks beneath the waters every year since the construction of a dam in the area in 1960 



Wrecked grandeur: The Church of Krokhino, in the former village of Vologda Oblast, Russia, was built in the 15th century, but was flooded after the construction of a hydroelectric plant

Wrecked grandeur: The Church of Krokhino, in the former village of Vologda Oblast, Russia, was built in the 15th century, but was flooded after the construction of a hydroelectric plant 



The bell tower in Reschensee

 Last remnants: The bell tower in Reschensee, Italy is all that remains from a 14th century church that was swallowed up by the artificial lake


Belltower of St. Nicholas cathedral in the town of Kalyazin
 
Similarly to the bell tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral in the town of Kalyazin, Russia, which was submerged to make a reservoir in 1939



Holy relic: The cross of the church in Potosi, Venezuela, is all that's left of the town that was deserted by its inhabitants when the government made plans to build the La Honda dam

Holy relic: The cross of the church in Potosi, Venezuela, is all that's left of the town that was deserted by its inhabitants when the government made plans to build the La Honda dam



Photo Essay Links - Page I



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