Port Royal

Port Royal

Officially, Port Royal is the capital of Jamaica, but unofficially, it’s known as the pirate capital. Mountains of gold and silver looted by pirates piled up here, and ships laden with gold sometimes didn’t even bother to unload—their cargoes just waited in port. It was one of the richest—and most depraved—cities in human history. Though only a few tens of thousands of people lived here, the city’s luxury far surpassed that of London and Paris at the time. The entire city had no industry, yet its residents enjoyed the most extravagant material life. Chinese silk, Indonesian spices, and British manufactured goods were all readily available. But of course, the greatest abundance was in gold bars, silver bars, and precious jewels.

Port Royal became a paradise for pirates, drawing all kinds of people eager to strike it rich. People from all over the world gathered here, opening hotels, warehouses, restaurants, and inns to cater to the pirates’ extravagant spending. In 1692, an earthquake triggered a massive tsunami. After the most violent tremors, two-thirds of the city sank beneath the sea, and the remaining buildings on land were washed away by the waves. Port Royal thus became a city lost to the ocean. After years of excavation, only 1% of its treasure has been recovered, with 99% still lying beneath the sea. The city’s sinful rise and tragic demise by natural forces have earned it the fifth spot on the list of the world’s top ten lost treasures.