Photo: Plane Found in the Jungle of Papua New Guinea
World War II Plane Found in the Jungle
The “Swamp Ghost” was a Boeing B-17E bomber that undoubtedly wreaked havoc during World War II. That was until 1942 when the plane crashed into the jungles of Papua New Guinea, brought down by enemy fire. The Swamp Ghost's downfall occurred during an attack on Japanese forces in Rabaul, New Britain.
The plane remained untouched for decades. When it was discovered in 1972, it was remarkably preserved by the local grass, kunai, and mud. The Swamp Ghost was so intact that there were still coffee bottles in the pilot's cabin when found. According to some sources, a well-preserved World War II plane like this could be valued at around $9 million.
Location: Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Year of Discovery: 1972
Estimated Value: $9 million*
Underground Pyramid in Bolivia
Photo: Subterranean structure are still ongoing
Location: Tiahuanaco, Bolivia
Year of Discovery: 2015
Estimated Value: Unknown
Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, and its historical ruins have been the site of numerous discoveries. It has been excavated for years by both private companies and government entities. In 2015, one of the most astounding finds in the area was an underground pyramid. Archaeologists stumbled upon it using radar capable of penetrating the ground and detecting what lay beneath.
Monoliths were also found inside the pyramid. Excavations of this subterranean structure are still ongoing. Tiahuanaco once housed one of South America's most significant cities, covering an astonishing 598,290,000 square meters. Its ruins feature stone monuments, palace remnants, sculptures, and more. Since 2000, Tiahuanaco has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Giant LEGO Man Found on Beach Shores
Photo: Topanga Beach in California.
Location: Yuigahama Beach, Japan
Year of Discovery: 2014
Estimated Value: Unknown
Humans usually worry about wildlife near shores, as it can indicate water quality issues. But what about stumbling upon a sinister giant LEGO man, standing at two and a half meters? This potentially ominous harbinger of destruction was discovered by a Japanese surfer. Allegedly, the LEGO man was wearing a T-shirt that read, “No Real Than You Are” on the front.
Instead of blaming aliens, it turns out the man behind this gigantic LEGO is a mysterious Dutch artist named Ego Leonard. This artist, according to his website, comes from a “virtual world.” Believe it or not, this isn't the first time such massive LEGO figures have washed up on beaches. Similar giants have been found on Siesta Key Beach in Florida and Topanga Beach in California.
World's Largest Flower Discovered in a Forest
Photo: Largest Flower in Indonesia
Location: West Sumatra, Indonesia
Year of Discovery: 2020
Estimated Value: Unknown
While exploring a remote forest in West Sumatra, Indonesia, environmentalists stumbled upon the world's largest blooming flower. It was the Rafflesia tuan-mudae species, known for its gigantic petals that bloom for only a week, at the end of the plant's life.
The massive flower had a diameter of 1.10 meters, making it the largest documented Rafflesia. It's easy to spot due to its fleshy-colored petals covered in white dots. This rather unflattering description suits the species, as it belongs to a type of vegetation known as “corpse flower,” named so due to its cadaver-like smell.
Underwater River with a toxic gas
Photo: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Location: Cenote Angelita, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Year of Discovery: 2016
Estimated Value: Unavailable
Discovering a river underwater might sound paradoxical. After all, isn't the ocean just water? Prepare to be amazed, as divers uncovered an underwater river hidden beneath a toxic gas cloud off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
The source of this river is Cenote Angelita, a massive sinkhole. Apparently, ninety feet below the surface, this river flows into the ocean. Surrounding it is a layer of hydrogen sulfide gas that would instantly kill anyone who tried to breathe it in. To add to the eerie ambiance, petrified trees and even a small skeleton reside within the hazardous cloud. The ancient Mayans believed Cenote Angelita was a gateway to the Underworld, and they might have been onto something.
Lost Ship Found in the Namib Desert — With Gold Onboard
Photo: Lost Ship Found in the Namib Desert
Location: Oranjemund, Namibia
Year of Discovery: 2008
Estimated Value: $13 million*
When you think of places to find a ship, the Namib Desert is probably the last on your list. But believe it or not, the remains of the Bom Jesus were discovered there. This Portuguese ship disappeared five centuries ago when it sank off the coast of Namibia. With the coastal waters receding, the Bom Jesus reemerged.
When it sank during a fierce storm, it was en route to India, loaded with treasures like gold and copper ingots. Diamond miners stumbled upon the ship and alerted the Namibian government, which sent a team to excavate the wreckage. Two thousand pure gold coins and tens of thousands of pounds of copper ingots were found in the Bom Jesus, nearly all of them intact.
Secret Underground Cinema Found in Paris Catacombs
Photo: These catacombs were created when the city needed a better place to store the dead
Location: Paris, France
Year of Discovery: 2004
Estimated Value: $5,000-$10,000* (construction cost)
The Paris Catacombs are a labyrinth beneath the heart of France. These catacombs were created when the city needed a better place to store the dead. Thus, Paris chose underground tunnels—five subterranean levels—where bodies were relocated starting in the late 1700s.
This setting makes this discovery even more eerie. In August 2004, during a police training exercise, a fully-equipped cinema was discovered in one of the previously unknown caves of the Catacombs. Terraces were carved into the rock to form an amphitheater, complete with projection equipment, a life-sized cinema screen, and a range of suspense and noir films. The films were neither offensive nor banned; it seems someone just wanted to create their own eerie private theater.
50-Year-Old Vault Hidden in Kitchen Wall
Photo: Vault Hidden in Kitchen Wall
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Year of Discovery: 2015
Estimated Value: $52,000*
A couple in Phoenix, Arizona, was renovating their kitchen when they stumbled upon a strange vault hidden behind a wall. When they opened it, they found not just $50,000 and spirits but also instructions for a treasure hunt.
The $100 bills were accompanied by a 1960s bourbon bottle. The last item in the vault contained “A Guide for the Perplexed” by E.F. Schumacher, a novel published in 1977. The bills were tucked alongside the book, which came with an Arizona map and a bingo card with outlined numbers. So far, the couple hasn't deciphered the intricate set of clues.
Unique Qing Dynasty Vase Found in Attic
Photo: Original Qing Dynasty artwork
Location: Paris, France
Year of Discovery: 2018
Estimated Value: $19 million*
While rummaging through their attic, homeowners in France unearthed an ornate porcelain vase. The vase had been there for years, but when the couple spotted it, they took the object to Paris for evaluation by the Sotheby's auction house.
Sotheby’s determined that the vase was an original Qing Dynasty artwork and estimated its value between $590,000 and $825,000. This secret treasure, however, would fetch much more: a buyer acquired it at auction for a bid of $19 million. This piece must indeed be unique to command such a price.
‘Witch Bottle' Discovered in English Chimney
Photo: ‘Witch Bottle'
Location: Watford, England
Year of Discovery: 2019
Estimated Value: $40*
Contractors demolishing an old pub in Watford, England, stumbled upon an unusual find within the chimney section of the building. This eerie and folkloric surprise was a witch bottle, filled with an unidentified liquid, teeth, and shards of glass. Experts believe the bottle dates back to the 1800s.
It was likely placed in the pub to ward off witches. Considering that this Watford property was the birthplace of the Witch of Saratoga, it makes sense. Angeline Tubbs, the Witch's real name, moved to Saratoga, New York, in 1761, where she made a living practicing divination and crafting witch bottles to scare off competitors.
