Abstract. – Itueta, a city in the east of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais Brazilian disappeared under the artificial lake formed by a dam. Drawing on narratives of people who experienced that dramatic change, this study aims at reconstructing that experience and the associated feelings of a deep meaningful loss. The conceptual framework for interpretation of these narratives is based on De Duve’s notion of “singularity” as well as on theoretical findings of anthropology, psychology, and history. [Brasil, Itueta, hydroelectric projects, singularity, public memory]