An entertaining book by A. Kofman presents the history of American exploration in a new and unusual perspective - as the history of the search for non-existent miracles that left traces on the map of the continent: Amazon, Patagonia, Brazil, California, Antilles. The reader will learn where ideas about mythical lands and their outlandish inhabitants came from, get acquainted with curious excerpts from ancient chronicles and documents, trace the exciting and tragic vicissitudes of pioneering expeditions and be able to deeper understand the amazing spiritual warehouse of people of the era of great geographical discoveries. Written in living language, the book is designed for the widest circle of readers, despite the fact that many of the collected facts will be new even for professional historians. The book is richly illustrated with antique maps and engravings.