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Gallery|Climate Crisis

Spain’s drought reveals lost worlds

As water levels drop, towns and villages that were once flooded can now be seen again.

Galicia Drought
Nothing but cracks along the riverbed of the Belesar reservoir. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
Published On 28 Jan 201728 Jan 2017
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During the dictatorship of Spain’s Francisco Franco more than half a century ago, dams and reservoirs were built across the country in order to improve water supplies.

Towns and villages were relocated while the original structures were flooded. Along with the once busy streets, even older Roman architecture was lost.

Last summer marked the driest period that Spain’s northwestern Galicia region has seen since 1981.

This ongoing drought has led to reservoir levels falling to just 25 percent of normal capacity.

But the lower water levels have now revealed those lost towns that haven’t been seen in decades.

Visitors from around the country are now heading to the region in order to get a glimpse of a bit of the past that may soon disappear again, when the drought ends.

Galicia Drought
These reservoirs were originally built during the dictatorship of General Franco. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
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Galicia Drought
In 1963, the town of Portomarin was relocated before it was flooded to facilitate the Belesar reservoir. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
Galicia Drought
Last summer was the driest in the Galicia region since 1981. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
Galicia Drought
Some reservoirs across northwestern Spain are only at 25 percent capacity due to the ongoing drought. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
Galicia Drought
Visitors have been drawn to the region to see the architecture lost decades ago. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
Galicia Drought
Some of the ruins that are now visible date back to when the Romans ruled Spain. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]
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