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(CNN) - Thousands of brave souls have ventured into the Rocky Mountains over the past decade in search of a treasure chest filled with gold, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
But that adventure has finally come to an end. The treasure has been found.
Forrest Fenn, the 89-year-old art and antique collector who created the treasure hunt, made the announcement Sunday on its website.
"It was under a canopy of stars in the lush forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from where I hid it more than 10 years ago," Fenn wrote. "I don't know the person who found him, but the poem in my book took him to the right place."
The treasure was found a few days ago by a man who did not want to be identified, Fenn told Santa Fe New Mexican. However, he explained that the man was from the "east" and that he confirmed his discovery by sending Fenn a photograph of his new riches.
The treasure, estimated to be worth more than $ 1 million, was one way Fenn wanted to inspire people to explore nature and give hope to those affected by the Great Recession, he said.
The clues leading to the location of the treasure were included in a 24-line poem published in Fenn's 2010 autobiography, "The Thrill of the Chase."
Fenn estimates that up to 350,000 people from around the world went looking for the treasure, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Some quit their jobs to dedicate their lives to searching, and others even died.
"I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they continue to be drawn to the promise of other discoveries," Fenn said on his website.
CNN's Madeline Holcombe and Chris Boyette contributed to this report.
Treasure Seekers