Underwater village re-emerges for first time in 40 years amid heatwave

A hidden underwater village has been exposed for the first time in 40 years after drought conditions caused a lake to recede.

Vestiges of the village of Llanwddyn in Powys, Wales, were seen for the first time since 1976 as Lake Vyrnwy evaporated by almost half its volume.

Llanwddyn, in central Wales by Snowdonia National Park, was submerged after a reservoir and dam were constructed for Liverpool’s water supply in the 1880s.

Almost 500 people were re-housed and their properties, including the village church, were knocked down.

At this time of year, the reservoir is expected to be at around 90 per cent capacity but, in the intense summer heat, the lake has fallen to a little more than 60 per cent of capacity.

Now the stone walls and remainders of lost houses can be spotted along the shore of the lake at this historical site.

Wales recorded its hottest day ever on July 18.

The Met Office confirmed a temperature of 35C in Gogerddan near Aberystwyth – which passed the previous high of 35.2C in Flintshire on August 2 1990.

The old village valley, that was flooded with water in 1889 after the dam and reservoir installation, may be underwater once again by the end of this month.