California's wet winter sparks a new gold rush

Placerville, United States (AFP) May 11, 2023

Albert Fausel has been scouring the rivers of Placerville, California for decades in search of gold. But the task has never been easier, nor the haul bigger, thanks to recent torrential rains. "This year, there's a lot of new spots" to find gold, says Fausel, clad in a wetsuit and snorkel, standing up to his knees in water. Less than 10 minutes into a recent visit by AFP, Fausel - divin