The discovery in Panamanian waters of a submarine that might have inspired French novelist Jules Verne in his book "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is attracting the attention of local citizens.
Remains of a submergible called "Explorer" are only 3 meters deep against San Telmo Island, in the Panamanian Pacific.
To examine the submergible, the Museum of Vancouver hired British explorer Blashford Snell, head of the Scientific Exploration Society which expressed interest when it was revealed that the submarine had been discovered in Panama in 2001.
After several studies and comparisons, James Delgado, Scientific Exploration Society executive secretary, identified the craft as the one designed and built between 1863 and 1865 by German engineer and naval officer Julius Kroenhl.
Kroenhl had built the ship with financial support from the Pacific Pearl Company to be used during the US Civil War (1861-1865), but it arrived too late,and was transferred to Panama in 1866, and used to extract pearls for three years.
Snell and other investigators said that its characteristics made it an ideal vehicle for pearl extraction, and this mechanism might have inspired Verne to write about the "Nautilus", headed by legendary Captain Nemo, in his novel.
By: Prensa-Latina
