The Bermuda Triangle

                                               

                                                                                                           

                                                The Bermuda Triangle

            For years, many planes and ships have disappeared in the area of the Bermuda Triangle. In my essay I'm going to try to find out and tell you, my fellow students, why this phenomenon is occurring.

          The Bermuda Triangle is an area in the world located to the Southeast of the United States and it is also referred to as the "Devil's Triangle". The triangle is formed by drawing imaginary lines from Melbourne, Florida, to Bermuda, to Puerto Rico, and back to Melbourne, Florida. The area of the triangle is 440,000 square miles.

           One of the many controversial things about the Bermuda Triangle is that there have never been any wreckage or bodies found from any reported missing boat or plane. But there have been discoveries of planes with bodies in them on the bottom of the ocean off the coasts. None of the found planes were reported missing. That could be because of the numerous amounts of  planes that disappear in the Bermuda Triangle. Charles Berlitz explains the number that disappear, "In the period 1974-76 more than six hundred yachts and other pleasure craft have disappeared off the coasts of the United States, a considerable percentage of these losses occurring within the Bermuda Triangle"(13). He also talks about an interview with the press, "Recently, during a press interview in San Francisco, I was asked by a reporter whether any disappearances had been noted recently. I replied that a plane had vanished the previous weekend suggesting that  the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, far from being a footnote to the past history of the sea, are still continuing on the average of a plane about every two weeks and a ship or yacht almost weekly"(15).

          There are many disappearances within the Bermuda Triangle that we can't be told about. (Only because they happen to the Navy or the Coast Guard.) "These probable reasons include the following: 1) Some incidents may take place in the vicinity of non-NATO ships or planes with potential international repercussions; 2) other incidents involving loss of communication contact, alteration from flight plan or course might be interpreted as lapses of professional expertise; 3) still others seem so fantastic that they are evidently simply removed from the ship's logs perhaps for the reason that an account of an unrelated incident would endlessly complicate and eventually obscure the report of the basic mission."(27)explains Charles Berlitz.

          The question of whether there are any famous people that have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle has probably come up in your mind. Well the answer is, yes. Maybe not people that you should know, but it said that they are famous. They are listed here, each with the number of its disappearance from the enclosed sheet, along with a little more about them:

- Air Marshal, Sir Arthur Coningham on the "Star Tiger"(#70)

- Harvey Conover, world renowned yachtsman on the "Revonoc"(#89)

- Al Snyder, a famous jockey(#72)

- Joshua Slocum, first solo circumnavigator of the globe on the "Spray"(#15)

- a would-be global circumnavigator, Donald Crowhurst on the "Teignmouth Electron"(#111). Others have disappeared like bankers, movie makers, priests, and other well-known people.

          There are many theories that different people believe in that explain the unusual phenomenon of the Bermuda Triangle. Many different theories have been collected by Charles Berlitz in his book Without a Trace. The following explains a few.

          One theory is that the Bermuda Triangle has a giant magnetic field in it. Whenever satellites go over the Bermuda Triangle any tapes or pictures that they try to take of it don't develop. That could be because tapes are magnetic and if magnetic forces are used on them, all of the information and data on them would be erased. The magnetic field would be really powerful if it actually exists. This supposed magnetic field does not interfere with the orbits of the satellites, but can erase magnetic tape 8 miles from earth. The government says that the reason no pictures could ever be taken is that the user's tape is rewound. There is no auto-rewind. The scientist, Professor Meshejan, who submitted the idea of the magnetic field, still thinks that it is a magnetic field, not a malfunction with the recorder. But that doesn't explain any of the glowing water, fire balls, and other unexplained phenomenon that frequently occur.

          Many theorists say that it is all aliens and UFO's that are making these planes, people, and ships disappear. Many people have reported seeing giant glowing disks bigger than ships, flying through the air. (Many of which just disappear or dive into the water or up into space) Others believe and suggest that UFO's are the answer to all these disappearances and unusual phenomena. (If you believe in UFO's, they can be the answer, they have all the equipment and technology to do these things.) If they are real, and they do have these technologies like they are said to have.  

          Another theory is explained here by Ronald Waddington, a researcher and theorist of the Bermuda Triangle. "My hypothesis is based on the fact that subterranean volcanic eruptions are taking place continuously. It is conceivable that due to the great depths and pressures of the geosynclines under the Atlantic volcanic eruptions quite different to the kind that created the Pacific atolls are taking place in this area. Fissures may be opening up in these uncharted depths and the fantastic pressure created by the hot gasses of the earth's core may be expelling chunks of radio-active densely magnetic material unlike anything known to man. This material would move with tremendous velocity, similar to a liquid-fueled rocket. When it broke the surface of the water, like a Polaris missile, it might act like a powerful cosmic ray in its attempts to change its electron balance.

          The effect of these rays on any plane that came within its magnetic field could short-circuit all electrical equipment. As the ignition system cut out, the plane would instantly lose all lift and plunge into a glide over which the pilot would have no control, as all electrical assists to the controls would also be dead this instantaneous power shut-off would also explain why no pilot was ever able to send out an S.O.S. even though some were in direct contact with ground controllers. The assumed explosions of planes in the air could be explained by the arcing of shorted electrical circuits igniting the gas vapors as they hit the magnetic field.

          The effect of this phenomena on ships would be quite different. Chunks of this radio-active material could shoot to the surface with the velocity of a hydrogen bomb and home in on the steel hulls of ships like the magnetic head of a torpedo, and with the same devastating results. It is conceivable that a ship hit with such atomic force could disintegrate completely, which explains why no survivors or floating wreckage is found.

          The peculiar phenomena of the ships that have been found afloat with no one aboard...can be explained by assuming that these eruptions, like all known volcanic eruptions, vary in magnitude and duration. These ships may have been bombarded with smaller fragments not powerful enough to sink the ship. The terrifying spectacle of these fire-bombs suddenly emerging from the sea and bombarding the ship would throw the crew into such a panic that they would immediately abandon ship. The boiling turbulence of the water, usually associated with a subterranean volcanic eruptions, coupled with the panic-stricken actions of the crew would preclude any hope of survivors from such a disaster.

          The remarks of the few radio operators who were able to describe what they saw before their sets went dead make no sense whatever, until you relate them to the fire-ball and water turbulence that a subterranean disturbance of this kind might create, then they make very good sense indeed and are perfectly logical.

          The fact that these mysterious happenings only take place on certain dates, and that thousands of ships and planes pass through this busy area without incident seems to indicate that these incidents have a cyclic characteristic similar to volcanoes.

          These kinds of peculiar eruptions could of course be taking place in other areas, such as the vast Pacific, a long way from busy shipping lanes and air lanes. Perhaps some of the mysterious disappearances around Japan and other areas of the Pacific could be looked into more closely to see if they fit into the pattern of deep geosynclines and sub terrain ridges..."(78).

          Using that theory by Waddington, it could be a logical explanation for the unexplained phenomena happening in the Bermuda Triangle. Such as the glowing lights, fire balls, and glowing waters. Those are a few things that could be explained by that theory.

          "There are indications, however, that the occurrences in the Bermuda Triangle cannot be categorized solely as coming from volcanic disturbances below and a turbulent sea above. Many other puzzling factors must also  be considered. These include the unusual behavior of clouds, the sudden appearance of glowing fogs, "whiteouts" accompanied by electromagnetic malfunction, unidentified lights or craft moving in and out of vision through the night sky or below the surface of the sea, or from under the sea to the sky and back again, and finally "phantom" radar sightings of objects on the radar screen that apparently have no material form"(103) Charles Berlitz disagrees.

          Many people have mysteriously disappeared from beaches, lighthouses, and swimming areas. Along with these instances there has been many time where boats are floating around with no crew. This is explained by psychiatrists, they say that the people panic and jump out of the boat or lighthouse (panic) in fear of any unusual disturbances.

          Another theory is that when Atlantis was supposedly around, Atlantis was told to have had giant crystals used for generating energy. After it sank some scientists believe that those crystals acted in a bizzare way and they created some type of electromagnetic energy, causing the shut-down of the ship's and plane's devices. This theory supports how the instruments on planes and boats go wild. It doesn't, however, explain how these crafts just disappear.

          New research provides information that under the ocean where the Bermuda Triangle lies, is the lost city of Atlantis. Many scientists say it is in the Bermuda Triangle, others say it is in the Atlantic Ocean, and there are 40 other locations where different scientists say it is.

          The legend of Atlantis talks about how an island containing a wonderful civilization with gold and silver and great structures, existed at the time of Pluto. After the glaciers melted a long time ago, the water rose to 1,000 feet deeper. What used to be beaches and islands are now just underwater structures. There is evidence proving that the water level used to be lower, 1,000 feet lower. They have discovered underwater caves with stalactites, icicle looking mineral formations formed by dripping water, hanging from the ceiling. They also found tachylyte on the ocean bottom, which is a type of lava that would have had to dry above water. That shows that the water has risen and that Atlantis could be sitting on the ocean bottom. Possibly under the Bermuda Triangle.

          Scientists have shown pictures of the ocean bottom that show tile formations. They also show a picture of a radar scan of the bottom of the ocean under the Bermuda Triangle. The scan shows a pyramid shape 420 feet high with a 540 foot base. Overhead photographs have shown the outline of walls and other ruins underwater.

          In about 1977 an expedition made by Dr. David Zink from Lamar University, researcher Dr. M. Valentine, Dr. J. Throne, and a few others that  has provided information that the ruins are not just natural rock formations. They are not just natural beach rocks, but a type of rock that was placed there in formations. (Possibly ruins of an ancient civilization.) Atlantis, the glorious and ancient civilization may have been covered by volcanic lava 11,500 years ago.

          Another strange phenomenon that goes on in the Bermuda Triangle is how radio and TV transmissions have been lost. Ships and planes have received transmissions of radio and TV that are years old. As if they were just lost and traveled the world thousands of times.

          Many people have experienced these unexplained events and here are some specific things that have happened to people. "A crew member on the Queen Elizabeth 2 sees a plane flying directly at his ship. The plane suddenly disappears into the sea a hundred yards from the ship. The sea nearly opens; there is no splash, no noise, and no wreckage or oil.", says Charles Berlitz.

          " A Cessna 172 is 'chased' by a cloud, causing its instruments to malfunction, and the death of its pilot, as reported by surviving passengers."(120) says Charles Berlitz.

           "A Beechcraft Bonanza flies into a monstrous cumulus cloud off Andros, loses radio contact and then regains it after four minutes, but finds itself now over Miami with twenty-five more gallons of gas than it should have had, almost exactly the amount of gas it would have burned for the Andros-Miami trip."(120) says Charles Berlitz.

          Charles Berlitz also talked about this strange event, "To the former category belongs the DC-3, a chartered passenger plane approaching Miami for a landing(#74  one the map of disappearances), whose pilot announced, 'We are approaching the field...We can see the lights of Miami now. All's well. Will stand by for landing instructions...' before he and his plane and passengers disappeared from the sky"(121).

          This encounter was experienced by Dr. Jim Thorne on August 4,1975 on the Island of Bimini, "A single star seemed to detach itself from the others and come strait towards us. It hovered directly above us and then moved to the right. It maneuvered first to the right, then to the left, and back again. It appeared to stop dead in the sky and hover over different parts of the entire island and the sea around it. I would calculate its speed at several thousand miles per hour. It seemed to be a bluish-white and also to vibrate. At times we thought we heard a buzzing sound or, rather, a steady oscillation of sound. We observed it for a full three and a half minutes. It was close enough for us to see its shape. When it got close I saw it was lighted with blue-white lights. It started away very fast.

          I've always been very pragmatic[about UFO's]- never believed in them. I'm convinced about what I saw. I'm not saying it was extraterrestrial but it was a UFO, that is, it was certainly unidentified. Walt Henrich, one of the divers, was with me, a rather unemotional guy. His comment was: 'I've seen it but I don't believe it.' "(137).

          Charles Berlitz talks about the Bermuda Triangle and the many possibilities that it could be used for, "Perhaps the Bermuda Triangle, another, greater mystery of the Atlantic, is at the same time an indication and a beacon to stranger and even further voyages. Perhaps it is already serving others as a road, while for us, when we learn how to control the principles involved it may prove to be the gateway to our own road to the stars and to the multiple worlds of the galaxies which surround us"(162).

          According to a report of the Astronomy Survey Committee of the United States National Academy of Sciences, "Each passing year has seen our estimates of the probability of life in space increase, along with our capabilities for detecting it. More and more scientists feel that contact with other civilizations is no longer something beyond our dreams but a natural event in history of mankind that will perhaps occur within the lifetime of many of us. The promise is now too great, either to turn away from it of to wait much longer before devoting major resources to a search for other intelligent beings...In the long run this may be one of science's most important and most profound contributions to mankind and to our civilization"(178).