Message in a Bottle - Messages that Endure Oceans and Centuries
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Messages in bottles have fascinated people for centuries. The idea of putting a message into a bottle, throwing it into the sea, and hoping that someone finds it has something romantic and adventurous about it.
The History of Message in a Bottle
The first documented cases of messages in bottles date back to the 16th century. Even Christopher Columbus is said to have set messages in barrels adrift in the sea during his voyage to America in 1493. However, it was not until the 19th century that messages in bottles were used more frequently.
Who Uses Message in a Bottle?
Messages in bottles are used for various reasons:
- Castaways in distress use them as a last resort to request help.
- Emigrants threw bottles with letters and money for postage into the sea during long ship voyages, hoping to reach their loved ones.
- Researchers have been using messages in bottles since the 19th century to study ocean currents.
- Today, many people send messages in bottles for fun or curiosity to see where they end up.
Records of Messages in a Bottle
The longest floating message in a bottle was found in Australia in 2018 - 132 years after it was thrown overboard from a German ship! Other bottles were adrift for over a century before they were found.
Why using a Message in a Bottle?
Messages in bottles exert a special fascination. They are a symbol of hope, a message that can endure oceans and even centuries. Even though modern means of communication are available today, the message in a bottle has lost none of its magic. It connects people across space and time in a unique way.
