- It should be noted at that the Triangle is not an actual geographic feature, and does not appear on most reputable maps of the region. It is not bound by natural formations such as undersea mountains or ocean currents. Rather, it is an artificial construct believed to exist over the open waters off the coast of the southeastern United States. The points of the Bermuda Triangle include the island of Bermuda, Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. It covers a large area of open ocean, including a portion of the gulf stream current, and is the site of numerous storms, especially during hurricane season.
- Strange stories from the Bermuda Triangle are largely a modern phenomena, as there is little evidence of the native tribes ascribing any mysterious significance to the region. Anecdotal evidence begins with the Europeans, almost as soon as Christopher Columbus arrives. However, it wasn't really until the 20th Century that widespread interest in the supposed paranormal aspects of the Bermuda Triangle really took hold of the public imagination. It wasn't until this modern day interest that a lot of the historical disappearances and sightings began to be attributed to the paranormal.
- Generally speaking, there are two types of stories to come out of the Bermuda Triangle. The first of these is the disappearance story. These are tales of missing ships or airplanes, believed to have entered the Triangle and then vanished, never to be seen again. The second type are often related. These stories feature weird or unexplained phenomena, such as strange weather, or the mysterious sightings of other ships and aircraft. While the disappearances can be verified as actual missing ships and aircraft, the evidence for the second type is purely anecdotal.
- Both of these kinds of stories have recurring elements, aside from the obvious geographic one. Of key importance in the missing vessel story is the absence of any witnesses or survivors. Most often these stories center on the ships or planes in question having vanished "without a trace," though sometimes the odd bit of flotsam turns up on shore. The sighting type of stories often have a strange weather which manifests as a suddenly appearing fog or storm, or even odd colors in the skies. Often times the mysterious ships sighted during these incidents will turn out to be vessels that had been reported missing in the Bermuda Triangle many years earlier.
- Paranormal explanations for the events in the Bermuda Triangle range from UFOs to inter-dimensional wormholes. Science tends to refute most of these, or at the very least call them into question. Some of the theories regarding the Triangle, such as its effect on compasses--causing them to point to true north instead of magnetic-- are not unique to the area. Most scientific theories for the disappearances center on the natural phenomena of the area, such as the strong currents and heavy weather. The persistence of stories concerning the Bermuda Triangle can likely be attributed to the same cultural forces that keep folklore alive all over the world, from the Yeti stories of the Himalayas to Loch Ness's monster.
Comments
Quickstar said
on 12/19/2008 I love reading about what can't be explained thanks!