Functionality Mistakes Throughout History That Were Way Too Expensive to Fix

Lake Peigneur, once a beloved freshwater haven in Iberia Parish, became notorious in 1980. The disaster, possibly triggered by Texaco drilling above an underwater salt mine, altered its landscape and history forever.

The transformation was dramatic: a 65-acre sinkhole expanded, deepening Lake Peigneur from 10 to 200 feet. Remarkably, all 55 miners escaped without injury. Texaco’s aftermath involved shelling out over $50 million to affected local businesses.