Potosi, Venezuela facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Potosí Pueblo de Potosí
Disestablished town
Potosí Location in Venezuela
Country	Venezuela
State	Táchira
Disestablished	1985
Population
• Estimate  (1985)	1,200

Potosí was a town in Venezuela, located in the western state of Táchira. In 1985, the Venezuelan government intentionally flooded the town. This was done to build a hydroelectric dam.

In 2010, something amazing happened. The town of Potosí reappeared for the first time since it was flooded. This was because of a severe drought. The drought was caused by a weather event called El Niño.

The Story of Potosí

Before 1985, about 1,200 people lived in Potosí. The president of Venezuela at that time, Carlos Andres Perez, visited the town. He arrived by helicopter and announced that the town would be evacuated. Then, it would be flooded to create a dam that makes electricity.

A former resident named Josefa Garcia remembered that day. She said the news took away their hope. The people of Potosí had to leave their homes. Some moved to nearby areas, while others moved to different parts of Venezuela.

The houses and the old church were left empty. The waters of the Uribante Reservoir then covered the town. The reservoir once covered 20 square kilometers (about 7.7 square miles). Only the steeple of the church remained above the water. This steeple is 85 feet (26 meters) tall. It used to be a marker for how high the water level was in the reservoir.

Potosí Reappears

After 26 years underwater, the water level in the reservoir dropped. It went down by 98 feet (30 meters) because of a drought. This caused the old town of Potosí to reappear.

The church, grave markers, and the remains of houses became visible again. You could even see the outline of the old town square. The church was completely exposed, though only its front part remained.

Many visitors came to see the reemerged town. Josefa Garcia, who used to work at the church, was one of them. She felt both happy and sad to see her old town again. The severe drought that affected the region in 2009-2010 is believed to have been caused by the El Niño event.

Images for kids

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  The church steeple of Potosí, visible above the water.

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  The church of Potosí, fully exposed during the drought.

See Also

• In Spanish: Potosí (Venezuela) para niños
• St. Thomas, Nevada, United States: This town was flooded in 1938 after the Hoover Dam was built. It has also reappeared from Lake Mead due to droughts.
• The Edersee Reservoir in Hesse, Germany: This reservoir flooded three villages when it was created. These villages can still be seen when the water level is low.