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Urban areas and small towns play a vital role in our daily lives. They serve as hubs for commerce, culture, and creativity, where innovation thrives and history is shaped. Iconic cities such as Rome, London, and Paris have driven entire civilizations forward. However, even the mightiest cities can succumb to the forces of nature.
While many cities withstand natural disasters, being engulfed by water often spells their end. Yet, submersion can sometimes preserve ruins more effectively than exposure to the elements, leaving behind astonishingly intact sites like China’s Shi Cheng, famously referred to as the “Atlantis of the East.”
Not all cities are so fortunate. Former inhabitants often witness their homes being swallowed by sand or gradually overtaken by the ocean.
10. Thonis-Heracleion
Thonis-Heracleion, though largely forgotten today, was once a pivotal city in antiquity. It appears in numerous ancient Greek tales and is renowned as the site where Heracles first arrived in Africa.
Before that, it stood as a key city in ancient Egypt, serving as the heart of global maritime commerce and a melting pot for individuals of diverse origins and nationalities.
Established more than 4,000 years ago, it flourished as Egypt’s trading hub for over a thousand years. The city was a cultural crossroads, with Greek and Egyptian armor and weapons discovered together in its submerged ruins, alongside statues blending Hellenic and Egyptian artistic traditions.
It also became a focal point for religious fusion, where the emerging Greek Ptolemaic dynasty was venerated and portrayed in art through an Egyptian lens.
In many respects, it resembled modern-day Venice: The city was primarily constructed on a cluster of small islands within a marshy coastal region of Egypt. It thrived as a maritime hub, interlaced with waterways and canals, and teeming with ships.
Similar to Venice today, it was gradually sinking. By the late second century BC, the ground collapsed, causing a significant portion of the city to either succumb to liquefaction or slide into the sea. It lingered as a minor village until its complete burial and disappearance around AD 800.
9. Port Royal
After the English seized Jamaica from the Spanish, they deliberately allowed it to become a pirate stronghold. Surrounded by Spanish territories, the pirates based there would focus on attacking Spanish ships instead of English ones, while their presence ensured the island remained defended against Spanish reconquest. Port Royal, the island’s largest settlement, swiftly transformed into a notorious pirate sanctuary.
At its peak, Port Royal earned the title of the world’s most sinful city. As a hub for both commerce and piracy, many of its inhabitants amassed vast fortunes. This wealth, often acquired through dubious means, drew in a lively crowd of drunkards, prostitutes, and unscrupulous merchants, all of whom added to the town’s infamous reputation.
With minimal government oversight, newcomers constructed homes on any available land. The absence of proper roads or sturdy stone structures meant that when an earthquake hit in 1692, the town was nearly obliterated.
Today, it is primarily a quiet fishing village, though numerous remnants of its past can still be seen beneath the waves. Residents hope to transform it into a premier tourist destination, but without government backing, their options are limited.
8. Lost Villages Of Ontario
During the 1950s, the US and Canada collaborated on a project to link the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, enabling ships to navigate as far inland as Minnesota. Known as the Saint Lawrence Seaway, this initiative began in 1954 and concluded in 1959. While highly successful, it came with a significant cost: the deliberate flooding of nine Canadian villages.
The towns of Aultsville, Maple Grove, Wales, Santa Cruz, Dickinson’s Landing, Farran’s Point, Moulinette, Mille Roches, and Sheek’s Island were all submerged, along with a section of Canada’s Highway 2, which had to be reconstructed on higher ground. This region of Ontario was among the oldest in Canada, with some villages dating back to the 1700s and others built atop former Native American settlements.
Prior to European colonization, much of this land belonged to the Mohawks. In total, more than 6,000 residents and over 500 structures were moved to newly designed towns. Despite assurances, many residents felt their new homes did not match the value of those they were forced to abandon.
Today, these villages are largely inaccessible, lying beneath a bustling shipping route. However, they can sometimes be glimpsed underwater, particularly when water levels drop.
What makes the lost villages particularly poignant is how recently they were submerged. This means numerous photographs exist online, capturing the villages in their prime, with residents going about their everyday lives.
7. Neapolis
Neapolis, once a leading Roman city in Tunisia, was devastated by a tsunami in July 365. The catastrophe, which also wreaked havoc along the coast in Alexandria, resulted in the city's complete destruction. Lost for 1,700 years, it was finally rediscovered in the summer of 2017 after a seven-year search by archaeologists.
During its existence, Neapolis supported Carthage in the Punic Wars, despite being a Roman settlement. This decision caused the Romans to largely erase Neapolis from their historical records. However, as archaeologists had theorized, the city turned out to be both expansive and advanced.
The remains of streets and structures confirmed Neapolis's development. The unearthing of over 100 tanks used for producing garum, a fish-based sauce, highlighted the city's primary industry. Garum, a Roman delicacy, was mass-produced across the empire, but evidence suggests Neapolis may have been its largest producer.
6. Vilarinho Da Furna
Local lore holds that Vilarinho da Furna was established in the first century by a Visigothic tribe. Remarkably, as recently as the 1970s, this small community of a few hundred residents still operated under an ancient Visigothic democratic system. Each family had one vote, and together they elected a leader from among the married men, who served a six-month term.
Plans to convert the area surrounding the village into a reservoir began in the 1950s. After extensive testing and surveys, the government initiated the project in 1967.
Residents were notified in 1970, and by 1971, the entire village had been evacuated. Before leaving, they constructed a new road to facilitate the removal of their belongings by truck. Some even removed tiles from their roofs. By the time the last person departed, most homes were reduced to empty shells.
Today, Vilarinho da Furna captivates visitors as the village resurfaces during summer when water levels drop. Tourists flock to witness the old town emerging from the reservoir and explore the underwater museum, established due to efforts by the Association of Former-Inhabitants of Vilarinho da Furna. This site has gained international recognition around the world.
5. Capel Celyn
In 1962, the last residents of Capel Celyn relocated. By 1965, the Llyn Celyn reservoir, which had submerged the village, was officially inaugurated.
The opening ceremony was planned to last 45 minutes. However, just three minutes in, Welsh activists severed the microphone cables, descended from a nearby hill, and dispersed the crowd. This act symbolized years of pent-up anger.
During the 1950s, Liverpool faced severe health challenges and urgently needed a new water source. After initial surveys, the valley around Capel Celyn was chosen as the ideal location for a reservoir to supply the city.
Unfortunately, the chosen valley was in Wales, while Liverpool was in England. At the heart of the valley was a small Welsh village with just 67 inhabitants. Liverpool City Council assumed there would be no significant opposition and proceeded with their plans.
Contentiously, they secured approval by bypassing the local Welsh council and instead obtaining permission through the Houses of Parliament. Once the bill was passed, they issued a land acquisition order and began constructing the reservoir.
This decision angered many in Wales, leading to a surge in membership for the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru. Protests erupted across Wales and even in Liverpool, where Welsh demonstrators reportedly spat at and verbally attacked locals.
Three young Welshmen detonated a bomb at the construction site. Their subsequent trial drew widespread support from Welsh activists who backed their actions.
Despite the activists' efforts, the project moved forward, and Capel Celyn's residents were relocated. The flooding of the village significantly boosted Welsh nationalism, and the phrase “remember Tryweryn” remains a rallying cry in Wales today.
In response, the government introduced several initiatives in Wales, such as increased funding for industrial jobs in Llanwern and the enactment of the first Welsh Language Act.
4. Graun
During the early first century, the Romans established a settlement in an Alpine valley. This small village, later named Graun, flourished through the medieval era, culminating in the construction of a grand church that remains standing 700 years later. Today, however, it is surrounded not by homes but by water.
The church’s bell tower is the sole reminder of a village that once housed nearly 200 families. In 1939, the Italian Montecatini company proposed building a hydroelectric dam. The area featured two smaller lakes, but the plan involved flooding the valley between them to create a single large lake, aiming to generate sufficient power for the region.
Local opposition had previously halted a comparable initiative in the Alps just a few years prior, and residents were determined to replicate that success. Meanwhile, Italy became embroiled in World War II, causing the project to be shelved. After the war concluded, the plan was revived with greater intensity and ultimately approved, leading to the village and its environs being flooded in 1950.
The frigid climate causes the lake to freeze during winter, enabling visitors to walk across the ice and reach the historic bell tower. Some locals claim the bells still ring on certain nights, despite their removal in July 1950.
With a depth of approximately 22 meters (72 feet), the lake offers the possibility of diving to explore the ancient ruins. However, such an adventure is likely prohibited by law.
3. Shi Cheng
Historically, China has faced criticism for displacing large populations to facilitate major infrastructure projects. The formation of Qiandao Lake necessitated the relocation of more than 300,000 individuals, many of whom had ancestral ties to the area spanning generations.
Among the most significant tragedies of this endeavor was the submersion of Shi Cheng, an ancient Ming dynasty city boasting remarkable monuments from at least the 1500s, and likely even earlier. The city, which had existed since 208 AD, was flooded in 1959 and now rests 40 meters (130 feet) beneath the lake's surface.
Shi Cheng remained forgotten until 2001, when the Chinese government launched an expedition to explore the submerged ruins. To their astonishment, the water had remarkably preserved the ancient stone structures.
Shielded from typical erosion caused by soil, wind, and rain, the city appears almost unchanged since its flooding. Shi Cheng stands as one of the most well-preserved remnants of China's Imperial Period.
In 2011, a project to reconstruct the city's historical appearance sparked renewed public fascination. Today, organized diving tours allow experienced divers to explore the submerged ruins, often referred to as the “Atlantis of the East.”
These underwater excursions remain exploratory in nature. Efforts to map the lakebed are ongoing, with divers uncovering additional historically significant locations.
2. Petersburg
Today, Lake Strom Thurmond, also known as Clarks Hill Lake, is a favored destination for tourists and swimmers in Georgia. However, few are aware that beneath its waves lies the submerged remains of the once-prosperous town of Petersburg.
Founded in 1786 by Dionysius Oliver, Petersburg was established to capitalize on the growing plantation economy of the Broad River Valley. It rapidly emerged as a vital hub for the tobacco trade and a primary site for inspecting shipments.
By 1801, Petersburg ranked as Georgia's third-largest town. Travelers praised its charm, describing it as a vibrant hub of commerce and culture, further enhancing its reputation.
However, the town's prosperity was closely linked to the tobacco industry. As cotton began to dominate by 1810, Petersburg's fortunes waned, leading to its gradual decline.
By 1844, when the post office closed, the town was nearly deserted. By 1952, as the US Army Corps of Engineers flooded the valley to form a lake, Petersburg had been completely abandoned and faded from memory.
Locals were astonished in 2002 when a drought revealed the submerged town. For several days, remnants like old fences, pottery fragments, and house foundations were visible before the water levels rose again.
The town has resurfaced multiple times during droughts, its eerie Victorian-era ruins attracting curious tourists and turning it into an unexpected attraction.
1. Potosi
In 1985, the Venezuelan government announced plans to flood a populated valley for a hydroelectric dam project. However, their approach lacked sensitivity and consideration for the residents.
President Carlos Andres Perez arrived by helicopter and informed the townspeople that their land would be seized, forcing them to relocate. The 1,200 residents dispersed, seeking refuge with relatives and acquaintances across Venezuela, while much of the town was destroyed.
For years, the only visible remnant of the town was the church steeple, which protruded above the water and served as a reference point for locals to gauge water levels.
This situation persisted until 2010, when a powerful El Nino event caused a severe drought across much of Venezuela. The reservoir's water level plummeted by 30 meters (98 feet), leading to widespread energy rationing throughout the country.
However, the drought also revealed the submerged church, graveyard, and remnants of old houses and the town square. Former residents seized the chance to revisit their hometown, honoring memories and paying respects before the waters rose again after the drought subsided.
