Paranormal Places : Bermuda Triangle

The "Bermuda Triangle" or "Devil's Triangle" is an imaginary area located off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States of America, which is noted for a supposedly high incidence of unexplained disappearances of ships and aircraft. The apexes of the triangle are generally believed to be Bermuda; Miami, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The US Board of Geographic Names does not recognize the Bermuda Triangle as an official name. The US Navy does not believe the Bermuda Triangle exists. It is reported that Lloyd's of London, the world's leading market for specialist insurance, does not charge higher premiums for vessels transiting this heavily traveled area.

NASA image of the western Atlantic, showing the popular borders of the Bermuda Triangle.

The most famous US Navy losses which have occurred in the area popularly known as the Bermuda Triangle are USS Cyclops in March 1918 and the aircraft of Flight 19 in December 1945. The ship probably sank in an unexpected storm, and the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean -- no physical traces of them have ever been found. Another well known disappearance is the civilian tanker SS Marine Sulphur Queen carrying bulk molten sulfur which sank in February 1963. Although the wreck of Marine Sulphur Queen has not been located, a life preserver and other floating artifacts were recovered. These disappearances have been used to provide credence to the popular belief in the mystery and purported supernatural qualities of the "Bermuda Triangle."

US Navy TBF Grumman Avenger flight, similar to Flight 19.

Since the days of early civilization many thousands of ships have sunk and/or disappeared in waters around the world due to navigational and other human errors, storms, piracy, fires, and structural/mechanical failures. Aircraft are subject to the same problems, and many of them have crashed at sea around the globe. Often, there were no living witnesses to the sinking or crash, and hence the exact cause of the loss and the location of the lost ship or aircraft are unknown. A large number of pleasure boats travel the waters between Florida and the Bahamas. All too often, crossings are attempted with too small a boat, insufficient knowledge of the area's hazards, and a lack of good seamanship.

USS Cyclops in March 1918

A significant factor with regard to missing vessels in the Bermuda Triangle is a strong ocean current called the Gulf Stream. It is extremely swift and turbulent and can quickly erase evidence of a disaster. The weather also plays its role. Prior to the development of telegraph, radio and radar, sailors did not know a storm or hurricane was nearby until it appeared on the horizon. For example, the Continental Navy sloop Saratoga was lost off the Bahamas in such a storm with all her crew on 18 March 1781. Many other US Navy ships have been lost at sea in storms around the world. Sudden local thunder storms and water spouts can sometimes spell disaster for mariners and air crews. Finally, the topography of the ocean floor varies from extensive shoals around the islands to some of the deepest marine trenches in the world. With the interaction of the strong currents over the many reefs the topography of the ocean bottom is in a state of flux and the development of new navigational hazards can sometimes be swift.

False-color image of the Gulf Stream flowing north through the western Atlantic Ocean. (NASA)

It has been inaccurately claimed that the Bermuda Triangle is one of the two places on earth at which a magnetic compass points towards true north. Normally a compass will point toward magnetic north. The difference between the two is known as compass variation. The amount of variation changes by as much as 60 degrees at various locations around the World. If this compass variation or error is not compensated for, navigators can find themselves far off course and in deep trouble. Although in the past this compass variation did affect the "Bermuda Triangle" region, due to fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field this has apparently not been the case since the nineteenth century.

A Myth Of Legendary Island : The Atlantis

One of the most intriguing mysteries of the ancient world was the alleged existence of a highly advanced civilization of people who lived on a continent known as "Atlantis". The Legend places Atlantis at almost 11,000 years into the past, yet the Antlanteans were said to have possessed technology that was far in advance of their time. The stories of this technology vary, but it was Plato himself who kept the whole idea alive - claiming that Atlantis did indeed exist.

Satellite image of the islands of Santorini. This location is one of many sites purported to have been the location of Atlantis.

Atlantis is the name of a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. In Plato's account, Atlantis, lying "beyond the pillars of Heracles", was a naval power that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9500 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune".

A map showing the supposed extent of the Atlantean Empire.

The original story of Atlantis is long and diverse, but it is said that Poseidon, God Of The Sea, created the island for his love, a mortal woman named Cleito. On the top of the hill in the center of the island a great temple was constructed to honor Poseidon, as well as a large golden statue of him riding a Chariot pulled by winged horses. The combined size of the Continent on which Atlantis became situated was particularly vast, and a great number of people came to live and work there.

Illustration by Lloyd K. Townsend

For many centuries the Atlanteans lived out there lives with peace and dignity, fulfilling their daily chores with contentment and determination. However, before too long greed and power began to overwhelm many of them, and Zeus decided to punish Atlantis. Soon afterwards the entire Continent was lost under the ocean, taking with it one of the world's most perplexing mysteries. Although no conclusive evidence has ever been found to support the existence of Atlantis, stories and historical records have been the source for many years of mystery and intrigue.

Underside of Ancient Atlantis medallion, there are symbols and text that may repersent some kind of calender system

Atlantis was said by some to have possessed technology such as spacecraft, powerful fuels and other devices which would look futuristic even by today's standards. Many believe that Atlantis was a colony of Alien beings from another world, while some think that the Atlanteans are still alive to this day, somewhere deep down beneath the waves. Whether we will ever discover the full secrets of Atlantis however, remains for the moment, unknown.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire A fictional Atlantean symbol rises above a raging ocean, where Atlantis is thought to be.

The legend of Atlantis is featured in many books, films, television series, games, songs and other creative works. Recent examples of Atlantis on-screen include the television series Stargate Atlantis and the Disney animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The video game Tomb Raider features Atlantis as the basis of its plot and the location for its climactic ending. It is also featured prominently and somewhat philosophically in Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea's epic Illuminatus! trilogy.