The reservoir levels have dipped by 82 feet and therefore, it is only the second time the church has been revealed since the dam was built in 1966. According to Mexican authorities the church was built by a group of monks who came to the region which was inhabited by the Zoque people in the mid-16th century. The church was later abandoned due to the plagues that hit the region in 1773-1776.
The drought in the area is attributed to El-Nino. El-Nino creates strong wind shear over Mexico, Caribbean and Central America. This leads to fewer tropical systems to develop. This summer, very few tropical systems have affected southern Mexico, thus causing less than normal rain over the region. Relief from drought conditions can only be possible when El-Nino weakens or dissipates. But this is not likely to occur until early 2016.
It is to be noted that this is not the first documented case of drought unearthing historical artifacts or buildings. Earlier this year, in Poland drought conditions revealed a Soviet fighter plane and various other historical artifacts which was buried in the terrain of Vistula River near Warsaw.
Image credit: mankatofreepress.com