It's been a minute, but I'm back with a fascinating topic that has captivated people's imaginations to the extent that it has become one of the most profound mysteries of our modern world; The Bermuda Triangle – just saying its name gives me those mysterious vibes. Anyway, the story surrounding it is so gripping that even when you attempt to uncover concrete facts, you can easily find yourself drawn into its mystique. I remember when I was a kid, my elders used to freak me out, telling me not to swim too far into the ocean or else the Bermuda Triangle might swallow me up. Its narrative holds such sway that it even reached elderly folks in Libya, who had limited access to the internet at the time. So, let's dive into this subject in pursuit of verifiable information...
Introduction to the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
Before delving into potential explanations for the mysterious occurrences in this region, let's establish some factual groundwork.
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, refers to a geographical area in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where numerous planes and ships have vanished under puzzling circumstances. If one were to search for the Bermuda Triangle on a map today, they would find that it is roughly defined by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, with three lines connecting these points to form its shape. However, creating an exact map of the Bermuda Triangle can be challenging because it lacks fixed coordinates, as it is not officially recognized, and its boundaries remain somewhat vague.
Among the numerous disappearances attributed to this area were the vanishing of around 20 planes, 50 ships, and even several individuals. Myths and legends about the Bermuda Triangle extend far into history, dating back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus, in his journal, mentioned the sudden turning of needles, rising sea levels, and distant lights as he passed through this area. In 1550, an English ship wrecked here due to adverse weather conditions, but it significantly influenced how people perceived the region, even leading Shakespeare to describe it as "vexed or cursed" in his play, "The Tempest."
Several key stories have fueled suspicions:
1. Ellen Austin: In 1881, the Ellen Austin, en route from Liverpool to New York, took an unplanned shortcut through the Bermuda Triangle, encountering a mysterious and erratic vessel. After two days of observation, Captain Griffin sent a crew to investigate, but a storm separated the ships. Upon reuniting, the mysterious ship remained abandoned, with no signs of damage or violence.
2. USS Cyclops: On March 4, 1918, the collier USS Cyclops departed for Baltimore, but it never arrived at its destination. There were no distress calls or wreckage found, making it the largest recorded loss of life in US Naval history.
3. Flight 19/PBM Mariner: Perhaps the most infamous disappearance, Flight 19, a group of five Avenger Torpedo bombers, went off course during a training flight. A search and rescue mission was launched, but even the rescue aircraft, a marine flying boat, disappeared from radar. Neither the crews nor the wreckage of the aircraft were ever recovered.
The Bermuda Triangle became famous because of two things: an article by Vincent H. Gaddis and an infamous book by Charles Berlitz, “The Bermuda Triangle”, which sold over 14 million copies. The name 'Bermuda Triangle' was actually first used by Vincent H. Gaddis in a 1964 article for Argosy magazine. In that article, he discussed the strange disappearances of ships and planes in this puzzling area.
Diverse Explanations for the Disappearances: From Supernatural to Scientific Theories
Supernatural Explanations
In Charles' book, he explores the idea of ancient civilizations leaving behind residual energies that may
affect this region. He also delves into concepts involving magnets, crystals, wormholes, disruptions in spacetime, and mysterious forces connecting us to the cosmic energy of the universe. Some theories even propose the involvement of extraterrestrial beings or aliens attempting to convey messages or offer assistance to humanity, particularly in the context of nuclear fission.
Scientific Theories and Hypotheses
Alternative theories grounded in scientific understanding include disturbances in geomagnetism, methane blowouts, and hurricanes.
In 2016, US researchers claimed to have unraveled the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle's previously unexplained incidents. Meteorologists suggest that a peculiar type of cloud formation found in this region could be a contributing factor to some of the vanishing incidents. These hexagonal-shaped clouds, spanning 20 to 50 miles in diameter, have the potential to generate highly localized high-speed winds. It is speculated that these winds could account for some of the perplexing incidents. Dr. Randy Cerveny of Arizona State University referred to these hexagonal cloud formations as 'air bombs' and explained that they result from microbursts—rapid downbursts of air from the base of the clouds that impact the ocean surface, creating substantial waves, especially when they interact with one another.
The Unappealing Reality of the Bermuda Triangle
The actual truth behind this supposed mystery – one that may not be all that mysterious after all.
Despite numerous claims of ships and planes mysteriously vanishing within the confines of this triangular area, the scientific evidence supporting the idea that the Bermuda Triangle is supremely dangerous is lacking. In reality, there's not sufficient scientific proof that it's any more dangerous than other parts of the ocean. Statistical analysis reveals that the number of disappearances within this zone falls even below the average rate. It doesn't rank among the top ten most dangerous areas in the ocean. In fact, only 0.02% of ships passing through the Bermuda Triangle encounter accidents or casualties, a figure that is 90 times below the global average.
It's easy to become swamped in this narrative because it is undeniably intriguing. I would advise caution when delving into research on this topic, as the stories surrounding it can easily captivate even the best of us. I thought I wouldn't get sucked into the hype, but I found myself reading a spooky kids' book about it at 2 am : )
Resources:
Articles:
Youtube Videos:
Books:
-Into The Bermuda Triangle, Gian J. Qusasar (wouldn't recommend)
KM, till next time (maybe week) <3
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