Villa Epecuén was and still is a tourist village in the Buenos Aires Province or Argentina. The city was built in the early 1920s. After a railway was installed making access to the village with ease, the area rose to be a well developed tourist destination for folks from Buenos Aires. They came to swim in the healing waters of the Lago Epecuen (salty lake). The town had the capacity for up to 7,000 vacationers and up to 1,500 residents. Unfortunately in 1985, heavy rainstorms followed by a series of wet winters caused the lake to overflow and the bursting of a nearby dam. The town flooded up a maximum of 33 feet, leaving it permanently inhabitable. Today, the town has exactly one resident, Pablo Novak (now is his mid 80s) who returned to his home shortly after the flood. Somewhere online there is a documentary that filmed the chronicles of his life. If I find his documentary, I will post why the lovely man decided to stay. It's about a 6 hour drive from Buenos Aires and all that pass . must stop. Pablo is by many accounts the ambassador of his own town. He is known to welcome all those who decide to venture out into this surreal land. Almost 30 years living in desolation and quiet, finally the tides are changing. The area is once again enjoying tourism.. this time 'ruins'. If you enjoy stairs to nowhere, broken appliances, rusted automobiles and bathtubs in the wrong places, then this is your spot! Say hello to Pablo for me :).
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