Isla Robinson Crusoe, Anno 1715 in Chile Robinson Crusoe Island (Spanish: Isla Robinson Crusoe), formerly known as Más a Tierra (Closer to Land) is the second largest of the Juan Fernández Islands, situated 670 km (416 mi) west of San Antonio, Chile, in the South Pacific Ocean. It is the most populous of the inhabited islands in the archipelago (the other being Alejandro Selkirk Island), with most of that in the town of San Juan Bautista at Cumberland Bay on the islands north coast The island was home to the marooned sailor Alexander Selkirk from 1704 to 1709, and is thought to have inspired novelist Daniel Defoes fictional Robinson Crusoe in his 1719 novel about the character.[4] To reflect the literary lore associated with the island and to lure tourists, the Chilean government renamed the location Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. This archipelago is named after Robinson Crusoe (also known as Juan Fernández Island) but perhaps it should have been called Treasure Island. It was discovered by chance on November 22nd, 1574 by the Spanish sailor Juan Fernández, as he was deviated from his planned course. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the island was used as a hideout for pirates. It was also the site of Alexander Selkirk, who was marooned on the island and lived alone for 4 years before being rescued. For centuries, treasure hunters have scoured the island in search of booty which was reportedly buried there in 1715 by Spanish sailor Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverria. International attention came in 2005 after Wagner Technologies, a funding company, found the largest recorded treasure trove: 600 barrels of gold coins and jewels worth about $10 billion (seized from the Incas by Spanish conquistadores). This announcement set off ownership claims. When Chilean authorities claimed the treasure as government property, a standoff developed. Wagner Technologies said it would only disclose the treasure’s precise co-ordinates once the government renounced its claim and that it would donate 60 percent of it to Chilean charities. The Government did not back down and the treasure remains in dispute and unexcavated.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 07:10:18 +0000
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