10 lost treasures around the world humanity still hopes to find

If you were asked about your most priceless possession, what’s the first thing that pops into mind? And what would you do to protect it? Since time immemorial, pirates and princes, captains and mysterious men have acquired wealth and done the impossible to defend it. So much so that from treasure chests to gold-filled trains, some riches were hidden so well that they have vanished to this day. Let’s find out about 10 of the most unbelievable lost treasures around the world and try to imagine what we’d do if we found them.

The Amber Room, often called "The Eighth Wonder of the World", was an 18th-century opulent chamber made of six amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors. It was commissioned in 1701 for Prussia’s King Frederick, and later gifted to Russia’s Tsar Peter the Great in 1716.

It was then installed in the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia, until it was dismantled by German troops in just 36 hours in 1941 and moved to Königsberg Castle in East Prussia. Since 1945, amid Allied bombings, the Amber Room has disappeared without a trace, believed to have either been burned, buried, or sunk in the Baltic Sea.

It’s an armored 150-meter-long convoy rumored to be filled with 300 tons of gold, jewels, and stolen art. Allegedly, it vanished in May 1945 inside a secret network of unfinished tunnels in the Owl Mountains, near Walbrzych, Poland, as German forces fled the advancing Soviet Army.

Explorers and treasure hunters have launched many high-profile searches using groundbreaking technology to locate the train, but nothing has ever been found.

The Flor de la Mar ("Flower of the Sea") is a legendary Portuguese ship that sank in November of 1511, on its return from conquering a wealthy hub, now known as Malaysia. With it, an immense fortune estimated at $2.6 billion sank to the bottom of the ocean and was never recovered, making it one of the richest shipwrecks in history.

Over the centuries, countless marine salvage companies have attempted to recover the treasure, although political disputes over salvage rights between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Portugal have continuously interrupted such expeditions.

The Treasure of Lima is a massive fortune of gold, silver, and jewels (including a life-size solid gold statue of the Virgin Mary), valued at up to $208 million and missing since 1820.

It was stolen by British Captain William Thompson, who had originally been tasked with protecting the Spanish treasures and allegedly buried them on Cocos Island off Costa Rica, never to be seen again. When captured, he agreed to lead the Spanish forces to the gold, but instead escaped with his first mate into the thick jungle and vanished forever.

The infamous pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, left behind a treasure no one has ever found. He terrorized the Atlantic Coast and the Caribbean, capturing numerous ships and stealing gold, silver, and valuable goods from them.

Modern estimates suggest that his riches would be worth $150 million. Before his death in November 1718, he claimed his wealth was hidden where "nobody knows but me and the Devil."

The Oak Island Money Pit is a centuries-old mystery of buried treasure filled with traps and tunnels, located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It began in 1796 when teenager Daniel McGinnis found a circular depression under a tree and started digging with friends.

As they dug, they began to find oak logs 10 feet down, pointing to a man-made shaft, but water from a storm later flooded the pit. Rumors suggest there is a vault with pirate gold from Captain Kidd, Spanish artifacts, or Marie Antoinette's jewels, as searchers have found tropical coconut fibers and fragments of gold chain there; skeptics suggest it might’ve just been a natural sinkhole all along.

Of the 50 Imperial Fabergé Easter eggs created for the Russian royal family, up to eight remain unaccounted for. Notable missing pieces include the "Nécessaire Egg" (1889), the "Cherub with Chariot" (1888), and the "Hen with Sapphire Pendant" (1886).

While many were lost or stolen during the 1917 Russian Revolution, miraculous findings, such as the "Third Imperial Egg" recovered at a U.S. flea market after a century-long disappearance, keep collectors' hopes alive.

The Honjō Masamune Sword is a priceless Japanese samurai weapon that was lost after World War II. It is considered one of the finest blades ever forged by the master swordsmith Gorō Nyūdō Masamune, and remains a priceless cultural symbol of power.

Designated an official Japanese National Treasure in 1939, many experts remain hopeful it might appear in a private collection or attic.

The Beale Ciphers Treasure is a renowned unrecovered fortune of gold, silver, and jewels, with an estimated value of over $65 million.

In 1820, a mysterious man named Thomas J. Beale checked into a hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia, and left a locked iron box with an innkeeper, alongside three encoded messages. If cracked, they supposedly reveal the hidden fortune. For now, only one has been decoded. Some experts allege the entire mystery is a hoax, while others continue to try to decipher the codes to this day.

The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is a famous, undiscovered gold deposit, said to be hidden somewhere near Apache Junction, in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains.

Legend claims it was found by Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant (misidentified as Dutch due to the old use of the term "Deutsch"), who settled in Arizona in the 19th century and supposedly kept its location secret before dying in 1891, except for the verbal hints he allegedly gave to his neighbor Julia Thomas, sparking modern treasure hunting to this day.

Every year, one anthem

Do you remember the lyrics? 10 unforgettable '70s hits to test you!

Image: Nik Korba

The ’70s were an eclectic mix of flared pants, flower power, disco balls, and glam rock glitter—and the music was amazing! Each year of the decade produced incredible hits that could be heard everywhere. Today, we’re revisiting the #1 songs that defined the fabulous 1970s. Let's see if you still know the lyrics!

Image: Karsten Winegeart

The turn of the decade made 1970 a tumultuous year. The disco craze was beginning to heat up, with platform shoes and flared pants taking center stage. That year, the world was treated to hits like "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, "Let It Be" by The Beatles, "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross, and "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by The Carpenters, among many others. But the song that stayed the longest at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel. With its beautiful and heartwarming lyrics, it became a classic!

Image: Eric Krull

In 1971, Rod Stewart stole the scene as a solo artist, winning widespread acclaim with "Maggie May" and "Reason to Believe." We also enjoyed top hits like "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" by Cher, "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees, "It’s Too Late" by Carole King, and "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones. However, none of these stayed at #1 as long as "Joy to the World" by the American band Three Dog Night, which topped the chart for an incredible 5 weeks!

Image: Brendin Hoffman

In 1972, Don McLean captured hearts with his hit "American Pie," Bill Withers was catapulted to fame with "Lean On Me," and Three Dog Night scored another big hit with "Black and White." The Temptations delivered their unforgettable version of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," and Johnny Nash brought good vibes with "I Can See Clearly Now."

That year, two songs held the number-one spot for an incredible 6 weeks each! One was Roberta Flack’s unforgettable ballad "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," which also won the Grammy for Record of the Year. The other was perhaps one of the most melancholic songs of all time: Gilbert O’Sullivan’s "Alone Again (Naturally)," still played around the world today.

Image: Mike Von

1973 was the year of big voices! Stevie Wonder with the legendary "Superstition," Diana Ross with "Touch Me in the Morning," Elton John with "Crocodile Rock," Jim Croce with "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," and Carly Simon with the iconic "You’re So Vain" are just a few examples.

But 1973 had even more treasures: Tony Orlando and Dawn rocked the charts with 4 consecutive weeks at number one with the catchy "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," and Roberta Flack led again for 5 weeks straight with "Killing Me Softly with His Song." Nothing but anthems!

Image: Ed Rojas

The Watergate scandal may have made headlines in 1974, but it was also a big year for music, with hits from various genres topping the charts. Representing disco, Carl Douglas’s "Kung Fu Fighting" made us all dance. Reggae had its moment with Eric Clapton’s version of "I Shot the Sheriff," Terry Jacks brought a touch of sadness with his folk hit "Seasons in the Sun," and John Denver sang to love in "Annie's Song."

But guess what? The most played track was a ballad! Yes, we’re talking about Barbra Streisand’s "The Way We Were," the theme song for the movie of the same name.

Image: Eric Nopanen

Maybe you were one of the lucky ones who caught the premiere of Jaws in cinemas. Do you remember that year? 1975 gave us all types of hits! Elton John was once again at the forefront, with "Philadelphia Freedom" playing in every American home. But he wasn’t the only one.

We also had the honor of listening to "Fame" by David Bowie, along with disco classics like "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle and "Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band. That year, a message of love and optimism won, with "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille topping the charts for 4 weeks in a row.

Image: IJ Portwine

1976 wasn’t just about America turning 200; it was also a celebration in sound! That year gifted us unforgettable hits like Rod Stewart’s sensual "Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)," "Don’t Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John & Kiki Dee, and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon.

But one track topped the charts longer than the others, and it was none other than "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney & Wings. As its title suggests, this playful anthem was McCartney’s cheeky reply to critics who said he wrote too many romantic songs.

Image: Stephen Harlan

The iconic Star Wars premiered in 1977, marking a turning point in science fiction and revolutionizing the film industry. But music also gave birth to amazing gems that year. For example, Barbra Streisand’s "Evergreen" (yes, the love theme from A Star Is Born), the unforgettable "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, "Hotel California" by the Eagles, and "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees.

And while all of those became anthems, none stayed at the top as long as Debby Boone’s "You Light Up My Life," which was #1 for 10 weeks!

Image: Dustin Tramel

1978 was the year we first heard the catchy "You’re the One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. But beyond that, other iconic songs also made history. Frankie Valli brought back 1950s nostalgia with "Grease," Donna Summer gave us her disco version of "MacArthur Park," and we enjoyed "Three Times a Lady" by the Commodores.

But if anyone had a great year, it was the Bee Gees, who released "Stayin' Alive" (number 1 for 4 weeks) and "Night Fever," which topped the charts for an impressive 8 weeks!

Image: Alphacolor

Unfortunately, the decade came to an end, but 1979 was far from short on great songs. In fact, it gave us some of the most memorable hits of the decade! To name a few, we remember "Heart of Glass" by Blondie, "Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?" by Rod Stewart, "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward, and the legendary "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.

But the one that surprised everyone was definitely The Knack’s "My Sharona." As the band’s debut single, it held the top spot for 6 weeks and became an anthem for a whole generation.