A closer look
Engineering hubris rarely leaves such a pristine monument to its own failure. In 1963, the creators of the Vajont Dam ignored basic geological warnings, resulting in a massive landslide that displaced the reservoir and sent a 250-meter-high mega-tsunami over the top, completely wiping out the town of Longarone below. The dam miraculously survived completely intact, and today it stands as an eerie, giant concrete middle finger to the valley, attracting tourists who want to stare into the abyss of human arrogance.
