Pirates, sea battles, treasure chests, secret tunnels, old maps...any mention of the word "treasure" is bound to set our imaginations on fire. And though it often seems unbelievable or just plain stupid, human beings have continually been lured by the prospects of hidden treasure.
Here's an exciting selection of 12 famous real-life lost treasures - "real" in the sense that countless people have gone out in search of them (with limited or no success!).
While some of these lost treasures may be products of rumor, others, like the Bourbon Treasure or the Nazi Loot indeed have historical backing.
1. Superstition Mountains, Ariz.: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine is supposedly hidden somewhere in these mountains ... and full of ancient Apache treasure. Find out more here…
2. Kaliningrad, Russia: The Amber Room was a chamber decorated completely in amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors contained within a palace near St. Petersburg — but it was looted by the Nazis and last seen in Kaliningrad in 1943. Find out more here…
3. Cocos Island, Costa Rica: An estimated $60 million worth of church treasure from Lima, Peru, is supposedly buried here — and is rumored to be the inspiration for Treasure Island. Find out more here…
4. Abbey of Orval, Belgium: The lost treasure of the Knight’s Templar and the War Chest of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette was supposedly hidden in the mysterious Abbey of Orval in Belgium on the eve of the French Revolution. Find out more here…
5. Lake Guatavita, Colombia: Associated with the legend of El Dorado, Incan gold and emeralds are said to be hidden at the bottom of Lake Guatavita in the Colombian Andes. Find out more here…
6. Grand Manan Island, Canada: The notorious pirate / privateer Captain Kidd is said to have buried caches of treasure on various North American islands, most notably in the "Money Cove" on Grand Manan. Find out more here…
7. Lake Toplitz, Austria: Stolen gold, artwork, and counterfeit money was supposedly tossed into this lake by the Nazis at the end of WWII. Find out more here…
8. Oak Island Money Pit, Nova Scotia: The Oak Island Money Pit is the site of the world's longest running hunt for lost treasure is said to have been discovered by 16-year old Daniel McGinnis in 1795. Find out more here…
9. Little Big Horn Battlefield, Mont.: A lost shipment of miner's gold may have been buried on the site of the Little Big Horn Battlefield in 1876. Find out more here…
10. Rennes-le-Château, France: Father Bérenger Saunière, a 19th century priest who is said to have discovered lost holy treasures in the Mary Magdalene Church in this small French hamlet. Find out more here…
11. Mindanao Island, the Philippines: It is alleged that loot stolen in Southeast Asia by Japanese forces during the Second World War was hidden on Mindanao island in the Philippines. Find out more here…
12. Mojave Desert, Calif.: The wrecks of Spanish galleons are said to be buried somewhere in the desert's Salton Sea Basin. Found out more here…
Source: The Huffington Post [November 16, 2010]