Every year, when the waters of the Benito Juárez Dam recede, an ancient Dominican church emerges in the town of Santa María Jalapa del Marqués, a reflection of the cultural richness of the Zapotec civilization.
This event, which occurs during the dry season, has turned this place into a fascinating destination and a hidden treasure of the region.
A Treasure Revealed
The first thing that emerges from the temple are its two domes, followed by its imposing walls and columns. Once the water recedes completely, the structure is revealed in all its splendor, allowing the beauty of its architecture to be appreciated in detail.
This visual spectacle captivates thousands of visitors and reveals a hidden history.
The Story Behind the Waters
The history of this church is as astonishing as its reappearance. In January 1961, the town of Jalapa del Marqués was intentionally flooded to build the dam.
Its inhabitants were relocated, but the temple remained standing, submerged under 947 cubic hectometers of water from the Tehuantepec and Tequisistlán rivers.
Old photographs show what the site looked like before the flood, surrounded by houses and palm trees. The dam was built to provide water to the crops of neighboring municipalities, but the drought, while revealing the temple, also affects the community of Jalapa, impacting one of its main economic activities: fishing.
How to get to the Temple of Jalapa del Marqués?
To visit this destination from the capital of Oaxaca, the most direct route is to take the Oaxaca-Tehuantepec highway. This road will take you to the dam area where the church is located.
The journey is approximately 223 kilometers and takes about 4 hours and 13 minutes by car.
Source: oaxaca.eluniversal
