14th-century church steeple submerged in Lake Reschen, Italy. When the water freezes, it can be reached on foot. In July 1939, the Montecatini Company introduced a new plan for a 22-meter (72 ft) deep lake, which would unify two natural lakes (Reschensee and Mittersee) and submerge several villages, including Graun and part of Reschen. The population from Graun and Reschen, tried to prevent the building over a political intervention. A discussion with the Holy Father in Rome was without result. The creation of the dam started in April 1940, but due to the war and local resistance, did not finish until July 1950. In total 163 homes and 523 hectares (1,290 acres) of cultivated land were submerged.
