If abandoned places already have an eerie vibe to them, echoing with the people and stories that no longer occupy them, then underwater abandoned places are especially mysterious. Buried beneath the waters of oceans and lakes, these haunts are usually unnervingly well-preserved.
Plus, floating through an old building to explore its past beats walking through one any day.
Here are 10 abandoned cities, buildings, and landmarks that are buried underwater.
Shi Cheng — Qiandao Lake, China
The "Lion City" sits around 130 feet under water, and is sometimes referred to as
"China's Atlantis of the East."
The over 1,340-year-old city named for Wu Shi Mountain has been underwater since the construction of the Xin'an River Hydropower Station in 1959— 300,000 people had to be relocated. The water has helped protect it from environmental erosion, leaving its 265 arches, five city gates, and ornamental carvings, which date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, almost perfectly preserved.
Vilarinho das Furnas — Portugal
The 300 people who lived in the small village of Vilarinho das Furnas, a town whose history goes back 2,000 years, had to move due to the construction of a dam in 1967 that flooded the area. When the water levels drop in the summertime, parts of doors and windows can still be seen.
Nymphas Show Bar — Eilat, Israel
Marine biologist Gil Koplovitz discovered an abandoned underwater strip club off the coast of Eilat, Israel. Koplovitz told The Huffington Post in 2013 that the club used to be accessible via a 230-foot bridge and a flight of stairs that allowed visitors to enter the building without touching the water. The poles in the empty bar area are still standing. Why it was abandoned remains a mystery.
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