For centuries, scientists have been trying to locate the legendary, “City of the Monkey God”.
Also known as La Cuidad Blanca or “White City”, the city was named for its luxurious white walls and the citizens who worshipped giant, monkey statues.
According to legends, Honduran locals fled from the area in the 16th century, fearing it had been cursed with disease.
Since being abandoned, random explorers and airmen say they’ve seen the city during their travels. The earliest rumors date back to 1526, with conquistador Hernán Cortés describing a province in the interior of Honduras that “will exceed Mexico in riches, and equal it in the largeness of its towns and villages.”
But the precise location of the mythical society has remained a mystery for centuries— up until six years ago.
In 2012, researchers conducted an aerial survey of a valley deep in La Mosquitia, a remote mountain terrain located in Eastern Honduras. During the survey, researchers identified ruins which they believed marked the location of the mythical city.
To get a closer look, a man named Douglas Preston joined archeologists on an expedition to La Mosquitia, hoping to assess the location.
La Mosquitia contains the largest rainforest in all of Central America. A number of dangerous predators call the area home— including venomous snakes, angry jaguars, and disease-riddled insects. Entering the depths of this untouched valley is truly a life-or-death adventure.
The ruins of the ancient city had been left relatively untouched. However, as researchers explored, they realized White City was not one single society; it was a bunch of tiny, hidden towns that, together, formed a forgotten civilization.
Researchers located a trove of pristine artifacts, as well as a thriving ecosystem housing many rare species of animals.
“This is clearly the most undisturbed rain forest in Central America,” Mark Plotkin, the expedition botanist, explained.
“The importance of this place can’t be overestimated.”
In total, researchers identified 198 species of birds, 94 of butterflies, 30 of bats, and 56 of amphibians and reptiles.
“More than a dozen species have never before been recorded in Honduras, and many, such as the green macaw, are endangered or extremely rare.”
“One snake, a false tree coral documented by the group, had been considered extinct in Honduras, having not been seen since 1965.”
Spider monkeys in the area also showed an unusual color pattern, which suggests they may belong to a new subspecies.
In addition to the rare creatures, researchers also spotted another mysterious animal which has yet to be identified.
“It had the head of a giant rodent with a hairy tail,” Manfredo Turcios Casco recalled.
The resulting video is a profoundly magical look into a realm untouched by humans— where creatures of our fantasies live in an abandoned world.
See it for yourself below!
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