Historic Towns Uncovered By Drought

A six year drought uncovers a town from 1865 that has been underwater since it was flooded. Similar finds are occurring across the U.S.

1 minute read

October 17, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Today, the water line of Lake Mead, once six miles to the northwest, is half a mile to the southeast. Now, there is a sun-soaked valley, along with the ruins of St. Thomas, a town that was, until very recently, under 64 feet of water.For nearly six years, a drought has afflicted much of the United States. Some regions haven't been as dry as they are today for 1,000 years or more

...For a spell, the town was the epitome of the western frontier, a bleak outpost where devout religion clashed with liquor and miners, where dreams of a better life were shattered by debilitating heat and disease. In 1938, it was erased — flooded, intentionally, when the construction of Hoover Dam created Lake Mead."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Saturday, October 16, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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