Former resident and tour guide Norma Berg walks along a street in Epecuen, an Argentine village that once was submerged in water.

The remains of a car in Epecuen.

Buildings lie in ruins. Epecuen was once home to 1,500 residents before it started flooding on November 10, 1985. After heavy rains the lake Epecuen burst its banks . It only took 20 days for the town to submerge beneath almost 10 meters of water, forcing everybody to leave.

A young tourist stands on stairs protruding from the rubble of homes.

Trees line a road in Epecuen.

Trees are reflected in water in Epecuen. Many residents fled to nearby Carhue, another lakeside town, and set up new hotels and spas, promising relaxing getaways featuring saltwater and mud facials.

One man refused to leave the village. Pablo Novak, now 82, still lives on the edge of the town, welcoming people who wander into the wrecked streets.

During Argentina's golden age, the same trains that carried grain to the outside world brought visitors from the capital to relax in Epecuen's saltwater baths and spas.

An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, the largest lithium deposit currently in production, in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, on Jan. 10, 2013.

A worker protects his face from the sun as he inspects machinery at the Rockwood Lithium plant on the Atacama salt flat, the largest lithium deposit currently in production, in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, on Jan. 8, 2013.

A view of samples of lithium carbonate processed from the Rockwood Lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, the largest lithium deposit currently in production, in Antofagasta, northern Chile, on Jan. 14, 2013.

An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, the largest lithium deposit currently in production, in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, on Jan. 10, 2013.

Overview of a mining camp on the Salar del Hombre Muerto, or Dead Man's Salt Flat, an important source of lithium at around 13,123 feet above sea level on the border of the northern Argentine provinces of Catamarca and Salta, on Oct. 28, 2012.

Braulio Lopez of Galaxy Resources lithium mining division carts halite concentrate at the Salar del Hombre Muerto, or Dead Man's Salt Flat, an important source of lithium at around 13,123 feet above sea level on the border of the northern Argentine provinces of Catamarca and Salta, on Oct. 28, 2012.

A llama stands next to a cactus growing on Incahuasi Island above the Uyuni salt lake, which holds the world's largest reserve of lithium, located at 11,995 ft above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, on Nov. 7, 2012.

A worker from Galaxy Resources lithium mining division puts on a mask before going to work at the Salar del Hombre Muerto, or Dead Man's Salt Flat, an important source of lithium at around 13,123 feet above sea level on the border of the northern Argentine provinces of Catamarca and Salta, on Oct. 28, 2012.

Laboratory technicians Gabriela Torrez and Bernabe Apaza analyze brine samples at the lithium pilot plant on the southern edge of the Uyuni salt lake, which holds the world's largest reserve of lithium, located at 11,995 ft above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, on Nov. 5, 2012.

Tourists prepare for a picnic on the Uyuni salt lake, which holds the world's largest reserve of lithium, located at 11,995 ft above sea level in southwestern Bolivia, on Nov. 7, 2012.

A soldier evacuates an elderly woman in a flooded street in La Plata, 39 miles southeast of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 3.

People embrace outside a club where the Red Cross set up a center to help flood victims in La Plata, in Argentina's Buenos Aires province, on April 4.

Vilma Gorostiaga cries outside her home as she dries her family pictures on the ground in La Plata, in Argentina's Buenos Aires province, on April 4.

Juan Fernandez sits inside a club where the Red Cross set up a help center for people affected by flooding after his home was damaged in La Plata, in Argentina's Buenos Aires province, on April 4.

A man rides a paddleboard after heavy rains lashed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 2.

Vehicles tossed by the storm sit along a street in Buenos Aires.

A woman looks at the flooded living room of her home.

A man perches above the water next to a boat in a flooded street.

Residents sit on a bench in a flooded public square.

A wall collapsed at a school in San Fernando, north of Buenos Aires, due to heavy rain and wind.

Detail of the silver cross Argentine goldsmith Juan Carlos Pallarols made for Pope Francis.

A woman takes a picture with her mobile phone of the Copahue volcano spewing ash on Dec. 22, in Caviahue, Neuquen province, Argentina.

A woman is overcome with emotion as she looks at damage by looters to a gas station in San Fernando, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on Dec. 21.

A security guard holding a hockey stick grabs looter at a gas station on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

Police open fire at people who tried to loot a supermarket in San Fernando on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Dec. 21.

People who tried to loot a supermarket throw stones at police in San Fernando on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Dec. 21.

A protester hurls a stone at police officers during a protest against the acquittal of 13 people accused in the disappearance of a young woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 12, 2012.

Demonstrators and police officers clash during a protest against the acquittal of 13 people accused in the disappearance of a young woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.

Susana Trimarco, right, poses with her daughter Marita Veron and her granddaughter Micaela, daughter of Marita, in 2002.

Protesters march against Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez on the iconic obelisk in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires, Nov. 8, 2012. Protests also were held in plazas nationwide and outside Argentine embassies and consulates around the world.

Protesters carry an Argentine flag during anti-government demonstrations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 8. Thousands marched against rising inflation, crime, exchange controls and to express their fear to a constitutional reform that could open the way for a third consecutive re-election of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez.

A protester bangs a pot during a march against Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 8.

A woman waves an Argentina flag during an anti-government demonstration in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 8.

A couple rehearses before competing in the Tango Dance World Cup 2012, salon category, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug. 20, 2012.

Italy's dancers Eloina Martins, left, and Paolo Nelzi, second from left, among others, wait to compete in the 2012 Tango Dance World, Aug. 20.

Ramiro Perez sprays his hair before competing in the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup, Aug. 20.

Dancers get ready backstage before competing in the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup, Aug. 20.

Couples compete in the 2012 Tango Dance World Cup, Aug. 20.