The Bermuda Triangle has been a terrifying mystery for centuries. Countless ships and planes have disappeared without a trace, generating an array of conspiracy theories ranging from alien interventions to ghostly powers. While paranormal investigators have obsessed over the area for decades, scientists may have finally discovered what really goes on in the Bermuda Triangle with a hi-tech model — and it’s not what you’d expect.
History Of The Area
The Bermuda Triangle is an infamous region of ocean between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. There is a wide range of theories to explain the disappearances, but the true cause remains unknown. But one man claims to have a pretty good idea.
The Rational Expert
Oceanographer Simon Boxall, of the University of Southampton, oversaw an indoor simulation of the Triangle. He hoped his findings could provide a rational explanation for the seemingly inexplicable events that have plagued the area.
Origins of Paranormal Theories
Stories of the Bermuda triangle date back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus reported a strange light in the middle of the night. He described it as “a small wax candle that rose and lifted up.” The stories only got stranger over the years.
The Mary Celeste
On December 4th, 1872, the Mary Celeste was spotted in the Triangle by passing sailors. The vessel was found in great condition with everything in place except one thing: the crew. Another ghost ship in the area was even more disturbing.
The Ellen Austin Ghost Ship
The Ellen Austin was on its way to New York when it spotted a rogue vessel on the horizon. The crew of Ellen Austin boarded the ship to find no crew and the cargo perfectly intact. This was only the beginning of the disappearances.
USS Cyclops Disappearance:
The Bermuda triangle remained out of the spotlight until March 1918, when the USS Cyclops and her 309 crew members disappeared. The 540-foot ship simply vanished without a trace.
The Carroll A. Deering
Long suspected as a rum-running ship, the Carroll A. Deering became known as the “Ghost Ship of the Outer Banks” after it disappeared from radio communications in 1921 only to be found on the shores of North Carolina with the entire crew missing.
The Witchcraft
The Witchcraft, a 23-foot luxury yacht, suffered a similar fate. A father and son departed Miami on the yacht in 1967 only to run aground about a mile offshore. When the coast guard arrived 19 minutes later, there was no trace of them or the Witchcraft.
Flight 19 Squadron Disappears
One of the most infamous disappearances of the Bermuda Triangle was the Flight 19 air squadron. On December 5th, 1945, five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo-bombers left the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida for a routine, three-hour training mission. They were never seen again.
Compass Failure
The squadron’s flight path took them directly into the Bermuda Triangle. Two hours into the mission, the squadron leader radioed land indicating that his compass was spinning uncontrollably. What happened next is inexplicable.
Off The Grid
The squadron leader asked land-based radio facilities to locate them using sonar, but all attempts failed. After two hours, a garbled communication came through that the squadron leader and all of his men were about to ditch their planes due to low fuel. A rescue mission ensued.
Rescuers Needed Rescue
A rescue mariner aircraft with 13 crew members was dispatched immediately to rescue Flight 19. The rescue mariner radioed three minutes into the flight that their mission was underway and they were never heard from again. The strangest part of the story happened next.
Further Rescue Missions Failed
The disappearance of the 27 combined crew members launched one of the largest air and sea searches in history. Hundreds of naval ships and planes searched thousands of square miles, but nothing was ever found of the “Lost Squadron.”
Naming An Urban Legend
Two decades later, the name “Bermuda Triangle” was coined by Vincent Gaddis. In a series of popular articles, he popularized the paranormal conspiracy theories surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. And when you see just how many strange things happen in the area, you can see the appeal.
Magnetic Anomalies
Despite the conspiracies, science hasn’t given up on figuring out the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle. It’s one of the few places on Earth where compasses point to “true north.” Why? Nobody knows, but this phenomenon could explain why so many vessels get lost in the area.
Methane Explosions
A possible explanation for all the ship disappearances could be a series of massive craters that were found along the ocean floor in 2016. Half a mile wide and 150-feet deep, the craters could explain how a ship could be there one minute and gone the next. But theories surrounding the Triangle are not always so rational.
Aliens and UFOs
Many conspiracy theorists believe the Bermuda Triangle serves as a portal that aliens use to enter and exit the planet, causing vessels to get lost in the area. Other supernatural theories may be even wilder.
The Lost City of Atlantis
Some believe that the Bermuda Triangle holds the key to The Lost City of Atlantis. The underwater city could explain why so many magnetic anomalies and disappearances have been noted in the area. Scientists are more skeptical.
No Mystery At All?
A prominent Australian scientist recently claimed that there is no mystery at all. The disappearances are simply the result of human error, bad weather, and large numbers of vessels traveling through the area. Another group of scientists wasn’t convinced.
Rogue Waves
Boxall and other oceanographers believe that a combination of storms coming from the north and the south create a deadly formation of “rogue waves.” These waves could be up to 100 feet high, easily sinking large ships and even swallowing low flying planes.
Statistically Safe
In spite of all the rumors surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, it is actually a statistically safe place to navigate. In fact, hundreds of planes and ships cross through the area on a daily basis. This natural explanation could also shed some light on famous disappearances across the Atlantic.
