The gold rituals at the circular mountain lake Guatavita, located just north of Bogotá, inspired the legend of El Dorado and other mysterious cities of gold. Ever since Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century witnessed an indigenous chieftain covered in gold dust dump precious metals into the lake, legends of vast wealth captivated future generations of fortune seekers. And while the lake continues to attract gold hunters who are keen on dredging Guatavita for sunken treasure, many people would be surprised by researchers who believe that the bottom of the lake also contains evidence of extraterrestrial life that came to Earth in search of gold.
One of the most famous alien visitations is supposed to have occurred in Cusco, Peru. The sun temple Qurikancha had a giant golden disc that some alien experts believe was a symbol of a gold-plated UFO that had landed in front of the Inca emperor Atahualpa, legendary for having direct contact with the "sky gods."