Epecuen: Eerie pictures of real life Atlantis that was underwater for 25 years In 1985 a long period of heavy rains sent the lagoon bursting over its banks, and it swept over a busy small town Epecuen was submerged beneath 10 metres (30 feet) of water and has remained deserted since Even when waters receded, the country town, 550 kilometres (340 miles) south of the capital, was never rebuilt It remained a hidden underwater world for nearly 25 years, but slowly the water around the 'town that drowned' has started to recede, exposing the ruins that nestle below. Once a vibrant lake country spa town south of Buenos Aires, Epecuen was flooded nearly three decades ago - the lagoon salt water has left its mark with everything slowly emerging from the flood covered in a silvery-white layer The Argentinian town was flooded without warning - on November 10, 1985 a long period of heavy rains finally sent the lagoon bursting over its banks, submerging the small community. Submerged: In the 1970s more rain than usual was delivered to the surrounding hills and Lago Epecuen began to swell. In 1985, the salty waters broke through the clay dam, and Villa Epecuen was flooded Surreal change: A man compares a picture of Lago Epecuen village taken in the 70's with the current state of the place - it was flooded on November 10 1985 Life stood still: Picture of bottles in a rusty box taken at Lago Epecuen village Destroyed: The laundry of a former building- since 2009 the level of the water has been decreasing and therefore exposing the ruins of this once very visited lakeside resort Former tourist attraction: Lago Epecuen¿s therapeutic powers have been famous for centuries and the lagoon has a salinity level only topped by the Dead Sea Former life: Rusty bed are seen under the ruins- only one man Pablo Novak, 81, lives in the town now and spends his days riding around the ruins on his bike The country town, 550 kilometres (340 miles) from the capital was buried beneath 10 metres (30 feet) of water. The flood barely gave its 1,500 residents time to gather their belongings and flee - stark reminders of daily life remain from the car engines left in the streets to the rusty beds protruding from the water. 'I had a bunch of cats and dogs, and they ran away a couple days before the flood and I never saw them again,' Norma Berg, 48, told AFP. She lived in the town until the flood forced her family to desert their home. 'I think my pets could feel that the water was coming,' Ms Berg said. Lone inhabitant: Pablo Novak feeds his wood kitchen at his house in Lago Epecuen village. I am OK here. I am just alone. I read the newspaper. And I always think of the town's golden days,' he said Uncovered: A damaged tomb at the cemetery - the level of salinity here is only surpassed by that of the Dead Sea No sign of life: Dead trees in Lago Epecuen - after the dam broke water gradually flooded the town until it reached a depth of 10 meters (33 feet) in 1993 Childhood home: Norma Berg, 48, next to the ruins of her family house. She said a few days before the flood her pets ran away - she believes they could sense the incoming water Deserted: Even when the waters eventually receded, the country town was never rebuilt and has remained eerily deserted Underwater: An aerial picture of the town of Carhue, near Lago Epecuen village, some 600 km southwest of Buenos Aires. The area affected by the flood that kept Lago Epecuen under the salt water of Epecuen lagoon for almost 25 years Since 2009 the level of the water has been decreasing and therefore exposing the ruins of this once very visited lakeside resort. The spa town had been a popular tourist designation with 20,000 people paying a visit each year to the lagoon. The town had 280 businesses, including lodges, guesthouses, hotels and businesses, centred around the tourist trade. Lago Epecuen's therapeutic powers have been famous for centuries and the lagoon has a salinity level only topped by the Dead Sea. Legend holds that the lake was formed by the tears of a great Chief crying for the pain of his beloved. It is said that Epecuen - or "eternal spring" - can cure depression, rheumatism, skin diseases, anaemia, even treat diabetes. Even after the flood waters receded, the town was not rebuilt - there is now one lone resident in the area - Pablo Novak, 81. Until about four or five years after the flood, when the waters were still high, nobody came around here at all. I was totally alone. All day, every day,' said Novak. He spends his days cycling around the ruins, although more visitors have come to the town recently in an attempt to salvage materials to recycle from the ruins. Desolate: A damaged tomb at the cemetery of Carhue - since 2009 the level of the water has been decreasing and therefore exposing the ruins of this once very visited lakeside resort Buried: The former slaughterhouse in the town - an area of about 40 square blocks was submerged Spooky: Dead trees pictured at dusk - the town's spooky appearance has provided a backdrop for many film sets This is the town that drowned: Once a lake country spa town south of Buenos Aires, Epecuen is now deserted due to flooding Abandoned: The engine and front wheel of a ruined vehicle - the flood barely left the town's 1,500 residents enough time to grab some belongings and run