Depleted Texas lakes expose ghost towns, graves

[jpak]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57328356/depleted-texas-lakes-expose-ghost-towns-graves/

(AP) BLUFFTON, Texas — Johnny C. Parks died two days before his first birthday more than a century ago. His grave slipped from sight along with the rest of the tiny town of Bluffton when Lake Buchanan was filled 55 years later.

Now, the cracked marble tombstone engraved with the date Oct. 15, 1882, which is normally covered by 20 to 30 feet of water, has been eerily exposed as a yearlong drought shrinks one of Texas' largest lakes.

Across the state, receding lakes have revealed a prehistoric skull, ancient tools, fossils and a small cemetery that appears to contain the graves of freed slaves. Some of the discoveries have attracted interest from local historians, and looters also have scavenged for pieces of history. More than two dozen looters have been arrested at one site.

<snip>

Texas finished its driest 12 months ever with an average of 8.5 inches of rain through September, nearly 13 inches below normal. Water levels in the region's lakes, most of which were manmade, have dropped by more than a dozen feet in many cases.

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Yo Perry - global warming is real and caused by humans...

oops

[emcguffie]

1. Why not photos?

I don't understand why, with such a story, there are no photographs.

[Sal Minella]

2. Five photos here, including the baby's gravestone mentioned.

http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/11/20/3541958/depleted-texas-lakes-expose-ghost.html

More photos in Google Images under Bluffton, Texas.

[MADem]

3. ....looters also have scavenged for pieces of history.

What assholes. Looters are the lowest of the low.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Lettuce Prey, Mr. Perry.