Yongheshan Reservoir in Miaoli has all but dried up. Taking a walk over the parched landscape, you come upon Yong'an Bridge, now visible after 40 years underwater.
It looks sturdy despite decades submerged. The sight brings locals mixed feelings.
Lin Chi-chun, Toufen resident
I had never heard tell of a bridge near here. So I feel a lot of grief in my heart, but it's beautiful as well.
Yong'an Bridge was once the route over the river for the local village. When the reservoir was built, the village moved, and the bridge was submerged. In this unprecedented drought, however, both bridge and village are seeing the light of day again.
We met a number of local people exploring the reservoir bed and the resurfaced Earth God temple.
Member of public
It's so rare to see these things resurface. I never knew there were buildings under here.
The ruins of these low brick houses are all underwater normally.
Member of public
I saw online a photo. It's unusual for the water to be so low, so I came out to see. This is once in 50 years.
The unrelenting drought has brought back the relics of history that lie under Yongheshan Reservoir. It makes for a trip back in time, but locals say they would rather have the rain back ASAP.
【中文翻譯】
永和山水庫乾涸見底 永安古橋重現天日
水情吃緊，也讓水庫裡的歷史遺跡，再度浮現。苗栗永和山水庫底下，有個隱藏版的「水下土地公廟」，因為旱象讓整座土地公廟浮出水面，成了乾旱奇景，彷彿古代村莊再現。就連隱身水庫底40年的永安橋，也整座橋重見天日。
永和山水庫乾涸見底，實際探訪走在龜裂的路面，走著走著，隱身水庫40年的永安橋，出現眼前。
看起來還十分堅固的永安橋，因為乾旱導致整座橋上浮，民眾說，看到如此景象，內心五味雜陳。
[[頭份市民 林桔春]]
“因為我也沒有聽人家說過，附近有一座橋在這邊，就心裡覺得很哀愁，又覺得很美麗這樣。”
永安橋從前提供村民越過溪流來使用，但水庫建造村子遷村後，永安橋便功成身退，沒想到因為乾旱重現天日，整座水庫讓古村落現身。
民眾探秘來到見底的水庫，也想看看隱藏版的土地公廟。
[[民眾]]
“因為難得可以看到這些浮現出來，因為我從不知道下面有房子。”
還有用磚頭蓋成的矮房，成了斷垣殘壁，也一一現蹤。
[[民眾]]
“網路上有人PO照片，水這麼少難得出來一次，50年才出來一次。”
久旱不雨，還原了苗栗永和山水庫的地形地貌，但民眾也感嘆，旱象嚴重，若再不下雨，恐怕會無水可用。
