The Bermuda Triangle, also called the Devil’s Triangle, is surrounded by numerous conspiracy theories and urban legends. This area of the North Atlantic Ocean is reportedly a place where ships and aircraft mysteriously vanish, with such accounts dating back to the mid-1900s. The exact boundaries of the triangle differ depending on the author, as does its associated lore, with many writers adding supernatural elements to their narratives. While explanations involving “UFOs” and “parallel universes” have been popular, scientists have finally resolved the long-standing mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.
Logical Explanations
For fans of urban legends, the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle has never convinced Australian scientist Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, nor has it persuaded America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Instead, Kruszelnicki argues that the Bermuda Triangle was “never a mystery,” describing it as a series of unfortunate events with entirely logical explanations and probabilities.
The Bermuda Triangle and Other Areas
Over the past century, more than 50 ships and 20 planes have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. However, when considering the high volume of travel through the area, these figures aren’t particularly unusual.
“According to Lloyds of London and the U.S. coast guard, the number of planes that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,” explained Dr. Kruszelnicki. “It is close to the equator, near a wealthy part of the world, America; therefore you have a lot of traffic.”
In a similar vein, the NOAA stated in 2010, “There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean.”
Environmental Cause
The NOAA explains that most disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle can be attributed to natural phenomena. The area is prone to sudden and severe weather changes and is dotted with numerous islands, making navigation more challenging. Additionally, some evidence suggests the Devil’s Triangle has a magnetic pull that causes compasses to point to true north instead of magnetic north, potentially leading to confusion for navigators.
“The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea,” NOAA states. “Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.”
Methane Hydrates
Another widely suggested explanation involves a natural gas that forms in the ocean, creating bubbles that can reduce the water’s density. “There is a microscopic chance of something called methane clathrate,” Kruszelnicki said. “Which are methane gas bound in ice could bubble loose from the ocean floor, come up to the surface and then have a shower of bubbles appearing at the surface.”
However, this theory was disproven, as this gas could not have caused the disappearance of ships and planes, especially not all of those that have “fallen victim” to the Triangle.
Human Error
Kruszelnicki explains that each case of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle involved either human error, bad weather, or a combination of both. For instance, Flight 19 is one of the most well-known events that brought attention to the Triangle.
The Doomed Flight 19
In December 1945, a squadron of five torpedo bombers disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle while on a training mission. “In charge of them was Lt. Charles Taylor, who, on two occasions, was such a bad navigator that he got lost at sea,” Kruszelnicki stated.
He further explained that Taylor had attempted to have someone else take charge of the mission, but his request was denied. Additionally, he was seen on duty without a watch, which was considered “very unprofessional,” and was also reportedly hungover.
Kruszelnicki went on to say, “Once out at sea, he then did not follow the standard lost at sea procedure with regard to the training mission. And instead of heading back to the west, he kept on going east, further out into the Atlantic Ocean, ran out of fuel and vanished.”
Stick with Bermuda Triangle Fiction
Certainly, weather and poor decisions aren’t exactly thrilling topics to tell around the campfire. While the truth may be dull and disappointing, it doesn’t have to take away from the intrigue surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. Much like other urban legends, such as “Bloody Mary” or Bigfoot, you don’t have to believe in them to enjoy the stories. And remember, air and sea travel can be hazardous anywhere in the world, no matter the potential supernatural factors involved.
