THE SUBMERGED CLOCK TOWER OF LAKE RESCHEN

 

Photograph by MARKUS BERNET

 

Photograph by SNOWDOG

 

Photograph by FREDERIK SCHULZ

 

Reschensee or Lake Reschen, is an artificial lake located in the western portion of South Tyrol, Italy, near the Reschen Pass, approximately 2 km (1 mi) from the Austrian border. With its capacity of 120 million cubic meters (97,000 ac·ft) it is the largest lake in the province. It is fed by the Adige, Rojenbach and Karlinbach and drained by the Adige.

In July 1939, the Montecatini company (now Edison Energia) introduced a new plan for a 22-meter (72 ft) deep lake, which would unify two natural lakes (Reschensee and Mittersee) and submerge several villages, including Graun and part of Reschen. The creation of the dam started in April 1940, but due to the war and local resistance, did not finish until July 1950. In total 163 homes and 523 hectares (1,290 acres) of cultivated land were submerged.

The top of the 14th-century church tower is still visible. In winter, when the lake freezes, the tower is reachable by foot. A legend says that during the winter one can still hear church bells ring (in reality the bells were removed from the tower on July 18, 1950, a week before the demolition of the church and the creation of the lake). [Source]

 

Wikipeda: Reschensee via Reddit