publish time

19/10/2015

author name Arab Times

publish time

19/10/2015

author name Arab Times
The remains of a mid-16th century church, known as the Temple of Santiago, as well as the Temple of Quechula, is visible from the surface of the Grijalva River The remains of a mid-16th century church, known as the Temple of Santiago, as well as the Temple of Quechula, is visible from the surface of the Grijalva River

MEXICO CITY, Oct 18, (AP): Leonel Mendoza fishes every day in a reservoir surrounded by forest and mountains in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas. But in recent days, he also has been ferrying curious passengers out to see the remains of a colonial-era church that has emerged from the receding waters.

A drought this year has hit the watershed of the Grijalva river, dropping the water level in the Nezahualcoyotl reservoir by 25 meters (82 feet). It is the second time a drop in the reservoir has revealed the church since it was flooded when the dam was completed in 1966. In 2002, the water was so low visitors could walk inside the church. “The people celebrated. They came to eat, to hang out, to do business. I sold them fried fish. They did processions around the church,” Mendoza recalled during a telephone interview Friday