Located many miles away from famous Spanish destinations, an abandoned village in the country may not be a tourist hotspot. But Esco could be an exception.

Esco was once a thriving village in Aragon in northeastern Spain until the construction of Yesa dam across the nearby Aragon river in 1959.

The Aragonese community, dating back over 700 years, was forced to abandon the village after their agricultural lands were submerged in water following the construction of the dam, reports Reuters.

Higher demands for irrigation and drinking water have led to discussions over heightening the dam since the 1970s.

However, locals in the nearby areas are protesting a proposed enlargement of the barrier, which was inaugurated in 1960 by General Francisco Franco, fearing that what happened to Esco will happen to their villages too.

See below the pictures of the abandoned village of Esco, where passersby stop occasionally to visit the ruins of houses.

Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
The sign for the village of Esco stands before a graffiti sprayed wall near the Yesa reservoir in Aragon March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
Ruined houses line the main street of the village of Esco near the Yesa reservoir in Aragon March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
A door with graffiti which reads, "Don't go in. Dogs loose", stands amidst the ruins of the village of Esco near the Yesa reservoir in Aragon March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
A wrought iron balcony remains fixed to a wall amidst the ruins of the village of Esco near the Yesa reservoir in Aragon March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
The ruins of the village of Esco stand before the Yesa reservoir in Aragon region March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
A sheepdog sits among the ruins of the village of Esco near the Yesa reservoir in Aragon region March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West
Travel to Esco Ruins, the Abandoned Village in Spai
The ruins of the village of Esco in the Aragon region are seen during sunset March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Vincent West