The phrase “underwater city” might make you think about Atlantis from the movie “Aquaman.” Plato even alluded to the fictional island many years ago. Ah, but there are actually places in the real world where you will find more than an octopus’s garden. Rest assured there are real-life underwater cities as well. Here we present but seven stunning travel destinations if you would like to explore undersea cities and villages.

1. Shi Cheng, China

Shi Cheng is an ancient city now under Lake Qiandao. This ancient metropolis, founded roughly 1300 years ago, currently lies between 26 and 40 meters (85+ and 131+ feet) beneath the water.

The valley where the city was located was intentionally flooded back in 1959. The government did so in order to build a hydroelectric power plant and an artificial lake. The power station no longer produces energy but is a top tourist stop. The peaks of the submerged mountains look like groups of islets thus this place is nicknamed the Lake of the Thousand Islands.

The water temperature averages between 50 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit and thus the underwater city remains in remarkable condition. You can see its gateway and buildings carved with various mythological creatures. The weather is always acceptable but the very best time to visit this Qing dynasty city is in the fall when it is sunny, dry, and colorful.

2. Kalyazin, Russia

If you’re rushin’ to Russia here is another special spot to add to your potential itinerary. Oh, what’s even better is you do not necessarily need to be a scuba diver to explore the Kalyazin ruins either. The city’s cathedral belfry towers high over the water.

Once significant as an important commercial center, it began to lose its importance following a revolution in 1917. Decades passed and it became all but insignificant. Thus in 1940 the powers that be decided to relocate the locals to higher ground and sink most of the city in order to construct the Úglich reservoir.

3. Sant Romà de Sau, Spain

San Romà de Sau is a little village in Catalonia’s Osona region. It is totally submerged by the water of the Sau dam. This place once had a bridge, homes, and even a nice Romanesque church.

The best time to visit is when the reservoir is not filled to capacity. It is then that you can see the church’s bell tower emerging from out of the water. Mind you, if you get there during a drought you can visit the ruins of the entire village because there is no water there at all.

4. Mediano, Spain

The underwater village of Mediano can be found in Huesca, Spain. In 1969 the village was intentionally flooded in order to build a reservoir. The news media did not report it when it happened but the reservoir was opened with warning the locals.

When the area began to flood, the residents had to flee their homes taking little more than only what they could carry. All but one building disappeared as the water level rose. The bell tower of Mediano’s church–which dates back to the 1600s– remained above the maximum water level. If you visit today you will be able to see a few of the buildings rising slightly above the water’s surface.

5. Port Royal, Jamaica

Port Royal is one of the country’s oldest areas. Thus, it is considered by its citizens to be a significant part of its overall heritage. Unfortunately, for history buffs, part of it is actually under the water.

Port Royal was the official seat of the British government in Jamaica during the 1600s. It was once a popular place for outlaws and pirates and acquired titles such as the “Sodom of the New World” and the “wickedest city on earth.” In 1692 the city was submerged by a tsunami.

The underwater city is not in the best condition that it could be due to the fact that it simply has not been maintained all that well. Nevertheless, according to the official Visit Jamaica website the water around Port Royal is reported to be “an archaeological gold mine, full of pieces of history that tell stories of the early days of the English occupation.”

6.  The Lost Villages of Ontario, Canada

A total of 10 different towns make up the famous “Lost Villages” of Ontario, Canada. They were all once municipalities of Osnabruck and Cornwall in Ontario. In 1958 the construction of a new waterway both of those areas was submerged.

Visitors can see buildings and sidewalks from some places above the water’s surface. Canada dedicated a museum to these submerged towns to keep their history alive. One of the museum’s more memorable exhibits includes a few of the structures that were relocated from the towns that were submerged. Great care has been taken to restore them to their pre-flood condition.

7. Pavlopetri, Greece

Pavlopetri is perhaps the oldest underwater city in the world. It is ensconced off the southern coast of Lakonia. The city was flooded approximately 5,000 years ago. It was not discovered until some time in 1967. Ever since then it has been a highly valuable archaeological site.

According to sources at the BBC, Jon Henderson of the United Kingdom’s University of Nottingham commented on this place following some more recent discoveries back in 2009. He told reporters:

“It is a unique discovery in the sense that we have found on the seabed an almost complete city, with streets, buildings, gardens, tombs and what looks like a religious complex.” The sunken city of Pavlopetri is one of the sites travelers can visit along the different “water ruins” routes offered in the general Peloponnese area.

So there you have it, dear travelers. Not all underwater cities are fictional. Not all underwater cities require visitors to be a scuba diver (although it does generally help). Do you know of any underwater city that is open to all visitors that we may have missed? If so, let us know in the comments section!

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