Treasure-Laden Spanish Galleon Found Off Ecuador’s Coast
A Spanish galleon that sank 352 years ago with a treasure of plundered gold has been discovered in 50 feet of “turbulent and silty” water off the coast of Ecuador, according to the project’s Norwegian financiers. The Spanish naval flagship La Capitana Jesus Maria went down in 1645 with a cargo of gold, silver and jewels stolen from Indians in what is now Peru.
The treasure is believed to be worth between $3.7 billion and $7.5 billion, according to news reports. The ship was sailing from Peru to Panama when it sank in shallow waters.
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