St. Thomas, USA

Not all settlements, which are currently hidden under water, were exposed to sudden destructive elements. Many cities have unwittingly end up in the flood zone during construction of dams and other structures, thus there are many new flooded settlements. Such places include St. Thomas that suffered during the construction of Lake Mead.

The latter is the largest in the United States; it’s located in the immediate vicinity of Las Vegas. Today this basin is one of the prominent attractions of the state. The length of the artificial lake is about 180 kilometers; its construction has begun in 1924.

Until the last days, inhabitants of St. Thomas didn’t want to leave their hometown, as they believed that it could survive the flood. However, in 1938 the government decided to evacuate remaining residents. In 1964, the area adjacent to the reservoir was declared a reserve. These places are famous for the variety of natural attractions. Many tourists tend to visit Lake Mead at fall of the tide, when the ruins of St. Thomas show above the water. They look fascinating and frightening at the same time, and remind people of their weakness in presence of elements of nature. Next - Shi Chen, Cheng Ho