Vilarinho da Furna, Portugal

Vilarinho da Furna, Portugal

In 1972, the creation of a dam caused Vilarinho da Furna to be lost beneath the water.

Vilarinho das Furnas was a village in the parish of Campo do Gerês, in the municipality of Terras de Bouro in the Braga district in Portugal. In 1972, the creation of a new dam caused the ancient Vilarinho da Furna to be lost beneath the water.

The village and its inhabitants
Construction of the new dam started in 1967 when this Portuguese village, that dates back to Roman times, had almost 300 inhabitants spread over 80 houses. The last inhabitant left in 1971, and the village was submerged the following year. Families that had to move are now scattered throughout the various lands of the districts of Braga. The properties of Vilarinho da Furna still belong to their descendants but the use of the dam belongs to the Portuguese state.

Tourist attraction
Every now and then when the reservoir levels drop, the village reappears and it is possible to see houses, paths and walls of the old village. Also recently boats with transparent bottoms have taken tourists near the village to see the remains of the city.

The museum
In a nearby São João do Campo a museum dedicated to the lost village was built with stones from two houses of the old village. It was opened by Prime Minister Cavaco Silva on 14 May 1989. It contains a collection of clothing, agricultural tools, and paintings depicting daily life in the village.

Sources: http://imoutoftheoffice.com/submerged-village-vilarinho-das-furnas/http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vilarinho-da-fuma and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilarinho_da_Furna
Images sources: 
http://www.geopt.org/index.php/artigos/faz-hoje/item/555-quatro-anos-a-aldeia-subaquatica and http://www.travelingtotally.com/best-destinations/abandoned-city-hidden-deep-under-water/
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