Villa Epecuén facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villa Epecuén
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Tourist village
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2009 photo
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| Country |  Argentina |
| Province | Buenos Aires  |
| Partido | Adolfo Alsina |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Elevation | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Population
(22 January 2024)
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| • Total | 0 |
Villa Epecuén was once a busy tourist village in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It was located on the eastern shore of Laguna Epecuén, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the city of Carhué. The village became famous because people believed the lake's salty water had special healing powers.
The village started in the early 1920s and quickly became a popular place for visitors. Many people traveled from Buenos Aires by train to enjoy the lake. At its busiest, Villa Epecuén could host at least 5,000 tourists at a time. Between the 1950s and 1970s, about 25,000 tourists visited each year from November to March. The town had around 280 businesses, including hotels, guesthouses, and shops.
Contents
The Flood That Changed Everything
What Happened in 1985?
On November 6, 1985, a rare weather event caused a huge wave, called a seiche, in the lake. A seiche is like a sloshing of water in an enclosed area, similar to water moving in a bathtub. This powerful wave broke a nearby dam and then the protective wall (dike) around the village.
How the Water Rose
The water slowly but steadily rose, covering the village. It eventually reached a height of 10 metres (33 ft) (about 33 feet). Villa Epecuén became completely flooded and unsafe for anyone to live there. The town was never rebuilt after this disaster.
What the Town Looks Like Now
Today, many of the old buildings are still there, but they are covered in a thick layer of white and gray salt. The salt comes from the lake water that dried up. It looks like a ghostly, abandoned place.
Life After the Flood
Who Lives There Now?
The town once had about 1,500 residents. After the flood, everyone had to leave. For 25 years, the town remained underwater. In 2009, the water finally started to recede, revealing the ruins.
As of 2011, only one person, Pablo Novak, lived in Villa Epecuén. Born in 1930, he returned to his home when the waters went down. He is the only permanent resident of this unique ghost town.
Villa Epecuén in Media
The story and unique look of Villa Epecuén have made it famous.
- A documentary called Pablo's Villa (2013) tells the story of the town and Pablo Novak's life there.
- It has been featured on TV shows like Abandoned Engineering and Mysteries of the Abandoned.
- The town was used as a filming location for the 2010 movie And Soon the Darkness.
- It also appeared as a backdrop in a cool street trials cycling video by Danny MacAskill.
See also
In Spanish: Villa Epecuén para niños
