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Colombia: a sunken Spanish galleon hides a treasure of 20 billion dollars
Colombia: a sunken Spanish galleon hides a treasure of 20 billion dollars
(France 2)
A Spanish galleon was discovered at the bottom of the water off the Colombian islands almost ten years ago. 300 years after its sinking, images showed that it still contained treasure estimated at several hundred thousand euros.
In the depths of the sea, near Colombia, what could be the most important archaeological discovery of our century still lies dormant. This is the Spanish galleon San José, sunk by the British on the night of June 7, 1708. Inside, an extraordinary treasure that an expedition is preparing, for the first time, to bring up. It is a mixture of gold coins, silver coins and precious stones. The largest ship in the Spanish Armada, whose location has remained a mystery for hundreds of years, will finally reveal its secrets.
A treasure estimated at 20 billion dollars
Located in 2015, the wreck was discovered at a depth of 600 meters. The precise location is kept secret. In April, an expedition using a robot will collect certain objects. The treasure, estimated today at $20 billion, has remained intact since the day the ship sank. It is currently at the heart of a legal battle between Colombia, which claims its rights to the wreck, and Spain, which considers that despite the years, the boat still belongs to it. A bilateral agreement between the two countries could be negotiated.
