Texas Canyon Lake: Hidden Underwater Cave, Century-Old Ruins Revealed Due to Low Water Levels

Texas Canyon Lake's hidden underwater cave, which may be a century old, has been made visible by the lake's low water levels.

Texas Canyon Lake Low Water Levels

At Canyon Lake in Texas, water levels are so low that an underwater cave and the remains of villages that formerly stood there more than a century ago are beginning to surface.

The 8,200-acre artificial lake has 80 miles of shoreline and is situated in Comal County, northeast of San Antonio. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, it was built in 1958 to reduce flooding and preserve water and had been flooded with water by 1968.

Over the summer, there wasn't much rain in the area. The extreme heat and drought combined to lower water levels than ever before.

The water level on Wednesday dropped to 890.89 feet, the lowest recorded level in recent memory and, according to the government, about 18 feet below normal.

On Tuesday, JM Perez took pictures of the cave, which is normally submerged. The uncommon sighting, he claimed, was bittersweet.

Water levels are so low at man-made Canyon Lake in Texas that an underwater cave and remnants of communities that stood more than a century ago at the site are reappearing https://t.co/B9uwtSgaoY
— CNN (@CNN) September 30, 2023

Hidden Underwater Cave

Perez has been observing the lake's level decline as he works there. Over 18 feet of the lake have now been lost. Perez claims that while it is quite upsetting to witness, it is also incredibly fascinating to explore some of the secret caves. Additionally, the history that is emerging.

The area that is now covered by water was originally home to the German immigrant-founded settlements of Hancock and Crane's Mill.

The ruins of a house that was on the lake's bottom can be seen in some of Perez's photographs. The Hancock Bridge's remains could also be seen.

In pictures taken by Porsche Devol on September 2, only a little piece of a cave was visible; now, shots reveal a wide entryway with rock formations and stalactites dangling from the ceiling. The water levels appeared to have dropped suddenly.

Devol claimed that since he moved here, he hadn't seen the water this low, and it somehow depressed him.

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According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, they frequently check the lake's water levels and close shoreline leisure areas when the water is too low for safety reasons.

According to the agency, as the lake's surface has receded, rubbish and other objects have also started to appear in addition to the cave and the remains of the ancient villages.

According to Clay Church, a representative for the US Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District, abandoned objects are frequently discovered anytime the lake level dips. They appear to find old tires the most frequently.

Additionally, the US Army Corps of Engineers advised visitors to the lake to exercise caution. There are additional underwater dangers like tree trunks and big rocks that are at or near the lake's surface when the lake level drops. According to Church, boaters and swimmers are more at risk because of these hazards.