Argentine lake receding to slowly reveal the town it once swallowed

It may be hard to believe now, but for decades people used to flock to the streets of Villa Epecuen for a chance to bathe in the salty waters of Lago Epecuen. Tourists and locals alike believed that lake, which has salt levels 10 times greater than any ocean, Amusing Planet reports, could heal common ailments like aches and pains.

As the lore of Lago Epecuen grew, so too, did Villa Epecuen. From 1920 through the 1970's the site expanded from a few stragglers with tents to a popular resort town with 5,000 people and 300 businesses. The site grew so popular that a railroad was constructed to connect Buenos Aires to Villa Epecuen for easy access for prospective vacationers, The Atlantic reports.

But soon Villa Epecuen's growth would come to a screeching halt. In 1980 the area experienced a slow but drastic climate shift that dumped large amounts of rain in the lake. Because Lago Epecuen had no outlet to drain the influx of water, the lake slowly swelled, according to NASA. By 1985 the lake's waters were already testing the limits of the dike that protected the village. On November 10, 1985 a severe storm blew through the area, causing the water level in Lago Epecuen to swell until it broke through the dike. A torrent of water cascaded into town, inundating the streets.

Over the next eight years the lake would continue to grow, until eventually, in 1993, Villa Epecuen sat 33 feet below the surface of Lago Epecuen.