The worst drought Brazil has faced for more than 80 years has had an unlikely consequence: the submerged city of Igarata is now reappearing after being underwater since 1969.
City buildings like a school and a church, as well as the main street, benches and trees, have started to emerge as the Jaguari River in Sao Paulo dries up to 100 feet or 30 meters below its normal level.
The town has been underwater since it was flooded during the building of a dam on the Jaguari River by the Brazilian government 46 years ago. Former residents held photographs showing the city when it was above water, but said they were conflicted over the sunken city's re-emergence.
"It brings me happiness in some ways, but it's also very sad. Happiness because the things that were around when I was a child are re-emerging from the water, but sadness because of the lack of water," former resident Irene De Almeida told ITN.
Igarata lies about 56 miles northwest of São Paulo where, in a bid to save water, the water pressure has been lowered in some areas for several hours a day.
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Irene De Almeida, a former resident of the re-emerging old city of the Igarata, Sao Paulo State, sits on the main street in front of Jaguari resevoir and holds a photograph of the city before it was submerged in 1969, Feb. 4, 2015. Nacho Doce/Reuters
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Stairs of the re-emerging old city of Igarata are seen in front of Jaguari reservoir.Nacho Doce/Reuters
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A boat rests near cracked ground and the evidence of drought in the Jaguari reservoir in Igarata.Nacho Doce/Reuters
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Igarata's church is seen in a photograph held up by a former resident of the re-emerging old city.Nacho Doce/Reuters
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The walls of the old school of the re-emerging old city of Igarata are seen on Jaguari reservoir.Nacho Doce/Reuters
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Trees rise out of the Jaguari reservoir, next to the re-emerging old city of Igarata. Nacho Doce/Reuters
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Piche, 62, a holds a brick from the old city of Igarata while standing on the main street in front of Jaguari reservoir.Nacho Doce/Reuters
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