Blue Whale in Costa Rica
October 30th, 2012
Costa Rica acquired Cocos Island in 1869. Between 1872 and 1874, the Costa Rican government ran a prison on the Coco Island. It also funded its own treasure-hunting expedition, but no hidden gold treasures were uncovered. In 1898, naturalists Anastasio Alfaro and Henri Pittier came to visit the island and suggested it be held as a protected area.
The fascinating history of Cocos Island is filled with real stories of pirate and explorer adventures. The proof of these activities can be seen at several spots within the island. For hundreds of years, explores and sailors have left their bearings on the innumerable stones and boulders at the Chatham Bay Beach. The Portuguese Captain Juan Cabezas is believed to be the foremost sailor to have chronicled information about the island in 1526.
The most valuable treasure said to be buried on Cocos Island is the fabled Treasure of Lima. According to a popularly believed legend, in 1821 a Captain Thompson on the Mary Dear was assigned the task of protecting the treasure during an attack and these harbor men gave in to the gold mania and ended up keeping their new-found treasure at Cocos.
In 1685 buccaneers, led by Captain Edward Davis aboard the Bachelor’s Delight ship, sacked the Nicaraguan city of León. When Captain Davis reached Cocos Island, he had about 1000 men under him. It is known that Davis invaded several cargo ships taking off from Lima to Panama en route to Spain. The treasure also ended up stored at Cocos. Dr. Lionel Wafer, the surgeon and naturalist has created evocative descriptions of the treasure days of Cocos, when Davis and his water soldiers buried their treasures and inhabited the island.
Over the years innumerable treasure-hunters have taken on the fascinating expeditions to Cocos. A gentleman named August Gissler was bestowed half-ownership of the island and he spent almost two decades and tens of thousands of dollars hunting for the futile treasures of Cocos. Several allegiances have been formed and the resulting treasure companies have swarmed upon Cocos using modern technology available for enduring hardships and expending countless hours in pursuit of the oft chronicled treasures. There are new expeditions being planned all the time. Adventurists are always going to be on the lookout here, searching for the elusive treasure and believing that they are going to be the lucky ones to finally bag it.
Cocos Island was formed during a volcanic turmoil about a couple of million years ago and comprises primarily of basaltic rock, labradorite and andesite lava flows. Its landmass is characterize by four mountain peaks, the highest of which is Cerro Iglesias, at 634 meters above the sea.
Piracy was a much sought after in the 1800s and one of the most successful pirates was Benito Benito (also Benitez or Don Pedro). He was a known terror on the Atlantic until 1818. He is known to have left a third of the Captain’s treasure, or approximately $300 million in today’s dollars on Cocos Island. In 1865, the central hideaway again became Cocos Island, which Bonito discovered was the ideal base for his operations. These famous pirate fables stories demonstrate the Island’s vivid and well chronicled history.
Cocos Island National Park comprises the entire island, protecting the lands and waters of the region. It is Costa Rica’s most isolated and least visited national park and can only be accessed by a 36-hour boat ride.
http://www.underseahunter.com/b165/cocos-island-history.html#.U0OUQPRDuQ4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Island
http://www.isladelcoco.com/theisland.html