UNDERWATER CITIES

1 CAPEL CELYN

Wales

In 1965, the Tryweryn Valley in north Wales was chosen as the location for the new Llyn Celyn reservoir, which would supply fresh water to Liverpool and the Wirral. In the valley, however, was the small village of Capel Celyn, which would have to be evacuated first. Plans to evict the 67 residents of the Welsh-speaking village and flood the land with 70 billion litres of water were vehemently opposed by the local community, Welsh MPs and the political party Plaid Cymru. A paramilitary nationalist organisation, Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru, formed and carried out a number of bombings at the site. Despite protests and campaigning efforts, the scheme went ahead and the village’s post office, chapel, cemetery, school and homes slipped beneath the water, seemingly gone forever. But in 1989, during a long drought, water levels dropped low enough for parts of the submerged Capel Celyn to be seen for the first time in more than 20 years.

2 VILLA EPECUÉN

Argentina

Once an exclusive holiday hotspot, this small