In the late 1950s, residents of Celles, a small village in the Salagou valley in southern France, received notices for evacuation. Their neighborhood had been chosen by the authorities to become the site for a reservoir, which was to be built supposedly for their own benefit.

This region has been traditionally known for its vineyards, but lately, the wine market was crashing and prices were dropping. The local government decided that the best way to ride out the crisis was for the farmers to diversify their crops. Plant fruits instead. But because fruit trees needed more water than vines, they needed to harness the river and build a lake. Which meant Celles had to be inundated.

Village Celles by lake Salagou. Photo: 7Horses/Shutterstock.com