The Lost Villages Of The St. Lawrence Seaway
Lost Villages Historical SocietyThe Lost Villages of Ontario were a series of 10 communities that were submerged to create the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In July 1958, 10 communities in Ontario, Canada, were lost to flooding — but it was no accident. In fact, the residents of these towns had known for years that the flood was coming. It was part of the construction of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam, which had begun in August 1954.
The Canadian government saw major hydroelectric potential in the Long Sault rapids that ran through the region and wanted to make full use of them. A dam was constructed in 1958. The subsequent flooding formed part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a series of channels and canals that connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.
And at the bottom of the St. Lawrence Seaway are the remains of the 10 communities that were sacrificed to create it.
“I saw churches destroyed, schools destroyed, towns completely wiped off the face of the Earth,” a former resident of one of the sunken cities named Jim Brownell told Global News in 2018. “For a young lad, it was exciting times. For the elderly though, very sad and depressing times, because these are the folks that knew they could never go back.”
Citizens were told that the construction of the dam would bring more industry into the region and, therefore, make them wealthier — but that never happened. Many felt that the amount residents were paid for their property was insufficient compared to the market value. Unfortunately, negotiations were all but impossible.
Instead, around 6,500 people were forced to leave their homes behind and start over. Just over 500 buildings were moved, but the rest were destroyed by the floods.
And today, when the water levels are low, those forgotten villages are still visible just beneath the surface.
If you enjoyed this look at underwater cities around the world, read up on the fabled lost continent of Lemuria. Then, learn about 10 sunken ships and what happened to them.
