In childhood, after watching Treasure Island or Pirates of the Caribbean, the desire to find piles of treasures after an epic quest was unbearable. For enthusiasts who have grown up but have not lost their craving for adventure, there are excellent places where the dream of finding a treasure can easily come true.
Here The five best places on Earth for treasure hunts. They may or may not make you wealthy in the material sense, but they will certainly enrich your traveler experience.
5. Papua New Guinea
The mountainous terrain and the rich flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea offer a real adventure into the unknown, and the soil provides ideal conditions for gold miners. According to statistics, this state takes 11th place in the world in gold mining. Gold can be found here not only on land, but also in coastal waters.
Additional information: if you do not dig a gold nugget from the earth, you can always go into the water to explore the other wonders of the island. Papua New Guinea can offer many great places for snorkeling, fishing and surfing.
4. Norman Island, British Virgin Islands
The fourth place on the list of the most promising places to search for treasure is the island, which is said to have inspired Robert Lewis Stevenson to write the story “Treasure Island”. Many local legends are associated with pirates who hid their treasures on the island. And no wonder, with its network of mysterious caves and bays. And it is these stories of pirate trophies that still attract many treasure hunters. And on the island of Norman come lovers of snorkeling and divers who want to explore the caves, bays and wrecks.
Additional information: in addition to the prospect of finding pirate gold, local caves offer stunning coral walls
3. Bakuit Bay, Philippines
Want to find the treasures that the Japanese government once hoped for? Then your path lies in the bay of Bakuit, which is associated with the legendary story of the lost treasures of Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, nicknamed the "Malay Tiger". Since 1944, he commanded Japanese forces in the Philippines and collected his treasures by plundering Malaysia, India, Thailand and Burma. Unfortunately, for Yamashita, Japan capitulated in World War II while the general was still in the Philippines. Before he was captured and hanged, Yamashita hid his treasures in 172 different places on the island of Bakuit Bay. He and his team hoped to return for values.
Some sources believe that Yamashita treasures today can cost billions. In the 70s of the 20th century, Rogelio Roxas found part of the treasures. However, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos confiscated both the find and those treasures that still remained in this particular tunnel. From 1973 to 1980, the Philippine authorities extracted over 1,000 tons of gold from the cache, which was then sold on the exchanges in London and Zurich. Prolonged legal proceedings of Roxas and Marcos followed, which resulted in the arrest of the capital of Marcos, held in the accounts of SKA Bank. And somewhere in the caves of the island, another Yamashita gold is waiting in the wings.
Additional information: if you are tired of exploring the caves, you can always soak up one of the many beaches or ride a kayak. Fortunately, there are many islands covered with lush vegetation in the bay, and they will soon bother.
2. Coober Pedy, Australia
In second place in the ranking of the best places to search for treasures is the district, which is the unofficial "opal capital of the world." The first gem was found here in 1915, and currently the region has the largest opal mining area on the planet.
About 150 million years ago, this part of the world was covered by the ocean. When the water receded, the sandy silica minerals from the seabed gradually hardened in rock cracks, turning into multi-colored gems.
The center of the district, the mining town of Coober Pedy, is also known for its underground houses built to shelter from the burning sun. These are underground "holes" dug in sandstone at a depth of 2.5 to 6 meters.
Additional Information: Coober Pedy has an 18-hole golf course, only because of the heat you will have to play at night.
1. Port Royal, Jamaica
This city boasts a rich pirate history. It was known as “the richest and most immoral city in the world,” since its harbor served as a haven for ships of many pirates. The thing is in the convenient location of Port Royal, its proximity to trade routes. Until the 2nd half of the 17th century, Port Royal was the focus of maritime trade in the Caribbean.
Additional information: In 1692, a powerful earthquake occurred on the island and most of the city disappeared under water. So if you intend to look for pirate treasures, stock up on scuba gear.