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NY Post
New York Post
1 May 2023


NextImg:Ancient Spanish monastery built in 830 finally visible after ‘exceptional’ drought leaves reservoir empty

Photos of an exposed ancient monastery in Spain highlight just how critical the country’s drought has become.

The Sant Salvador de la Vedella Benedictine monastery in Catalonia, Spain, was built in 830.

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It’s the only building of the ancient village of Sant Salvador de la Vedella left standing.

In 1976, the town was flooded by the Baells reservoir.

Since then, the monastery has typically been surrounded by water, reachable by kayak when the reservoir is full and by foot when it’s low.

Now, the reservoir is completely bare.

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The “shocking” images from the Catalan Water Agency are a grim reminder that “we are in the phase of exceptionality,” the agency said.

A 2017 Instagram post shows what the remarkable monastery looks like when it’s surrounded by water. 

Drought levels in Spain reached “exceptional” levels in March, threatening access to drinking water for 6 million people in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

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In Catalonia, about 75 miles north of Barcelona, the situation is critical, as average reservoir levels hover around 27% of their capacity.

There are restrictions on agricultural and industrial water use, and it is forbidden to use drinking water for washing cars or filling swimming pools.

People visit Sau reservoir in conditions of extreme drought in Vilanova de Sau, Spain on April 7.

The monastery is the only building of the ancient village of Sant Salvador de la Vedella left standing.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

An aerial view of the partially submerged Church of Sant Roma, visible due to the low water level of the Sau reservoir.

An aerial view of the partially submerged Church of Sant Roma, visible due to the low water level of the Sau reservoir.
AFP via Getty Images

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Ruined houses of Sant Roma de Sau on the dried banks of the swamp of Sau, located in the province of Girona in Catalonia on April 16.

Ruined houses of Sant Roma de Sau on the dried banks of the swamp of Sau on April 16.
AFP via Getty Images

People look into a ruined house of Sant Roma de Sau on the dried banks.

People look into a ruined house of Sant Roma de Sau.
AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Spain as a whole has warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2 Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, the Associated Press reports.

It’s a phenomenon that is noticeable all year round but especially in summer — when average temperatures have risen by 1.6 degrees.