11 abandoned underwater sites and the history behind them

Rummu Prison.Ints Vikmanis/Shutterstock

• Some towns have been abandoned and flooded in order to create reservoirs or lakes, such as the The Lost Villages of Ontario in Canada.
• Other ancient cities ended up underwater due to earthquakes, like the Egyptian city of Thonis-Heracleion dating back thousands of years.

Abandoned places already have an eerie vibe to them, echoing with the people and stories that no longer occupy them. Underwater abandoned places are especially mysterious. Buried beneath the waters of oceans and lakes, these haunts are unnervingly well-preserved since the water protects them from erosion.

Here are 11 abandoned cities, buildings, and landmarks that are buried underwater.