He marketed the lake as having healing properties, hiring Italian scientists to bolster the claim.

[4] On 6 November 1985, a seiche, caused by a rare weather pattern, broke a nearby dam, and then the dike protecting the village; the water rose progressively, reaching a peak of 10 metres (33 ft).

Until 2024 it had one resident, Pablo Novak, born in 1930, who returned to his home in 2009 when the waters receded after covering the town for 25 years.

It was used as a location in the 2010 film And Soon the Darkness, starring Amber Heard and Karl Urban.

The city features as the backdrop to one of Danny MacAskill's street trials cycling videos.