The Unresolved Mystery of Bermuda Triangle
Introduction:
Few mysteries of the world have not been answered properly. Till date these remain unresolved. The mystery of Bermuda Triangle is one such perplexing phenomenon. Bermuda is a small island country just east of the United States , in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is an area of ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda; almost halfway between Bermuda and Puerto Rico. The name ‘Bermuda’ comes from the Spanish word for “beacon”. When Europeans first discovered Bermuda, they found a series of small islands that were a good place to get a signal for ships. Over time, people started to call these islands the ‘Bermuda Triangle’. The area is also referred as the Devil’s Triangle, the Bermuda Triangle of the Atlantic, the Bermuda Triangle of the Central Atlantic, the Devil’s Triangle, the Devil’s Triangle of the Eastern Atlantic, or the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The triangle is actually a horseshoe shaped chain of more than 200 cays. The cays are grouped in two clusters, named the Eastern and Western triangles.
Discovery of Bermuda Triangle:
In the early days of Bermuda, only British yachtsmen and French fishermen knew about the island. It was discovered in 1766 by a New York City merchant who was sailing between the two with a party of four men. The merchant, Captain John Grinnell, named the island after the shape it made with the wind when seen from his ship and became the first resident of Bermuda, which he called to be the “best island in the world” and the “prettiest” too, for the remaining of his life.
Reason Behind the Mystery:
It is not entirely clear what causes the Bermuda Triangle to be so mysterious, but it is known that the region is noted for its large number of shipwrecks, unusual weather, and dangerous waters. For decades, people have been fascinated by what appears to be a strange, glowing patch of ocean nearby. At night, one can sometimes witness bright green lights floating above the water. Sometimes, strange aircraft seem to fly through the area. The place is notorious for its high number of ship, plane, and even shipwreck disappearances. More than 1,000 ships have been lost in the area since 1500, when the first documented shipwreck was recorded.
Different Events:
The first recorded incident with the Bermuda Triangle occurred on December 5, 1945, when the U.S. Navy TBM Avenger Planes (Flight 19) vanished without a trace. Total five US Navy Planes, carrying 14 airmen altogether, were out for a routine drill. Lieutenant Charles Taylor was in charge of the exercise. Suddenly, he was heard saying, “ we are entering white water, nothing seems right. We do not know where we are, the water is green, no white.” On the same day, PBM Mariner ( Bu. No. 59225) went for searching Flight 19. It took off in the evening, at 7:27, from Patrick Air Force Base (the then Banana River Naval Air Station). At 19:30 the last radio message was received from the aircraft. Once again that plane also, carrying 14 airmen vanished mysteriously. In the decades that followed, numerous ships and planes disappeared. But, it’s very difficult to know what to make of the Bermuda Triangle. Was it an accident, or an intentional hoax? Were there really disappearances, or were witnesses simply being inept? And what really happened inside that triangle?
The origin of the Bermuda Triangle is the subject of much debate. Scientists still have several theories. One theory holds that the Bermuda Triangle was first formed as a result of the end of the last ice age some 10,000 years ago. Another holds that a meteorite strike caused the triangle’s formation. A combination of a number of physical, geological and atmospheric factors, including the paths of ocean currents, have contributed to the formation of the Triangle. Some claim the triangle is caused by the Earth’s rotation. Many people believe that the Bermuda Triangle is a myth, that there is no “myth” of the triangle and that no one knows why it exists. But some still believe that the old Bermuda Triangle stories contain elements of truth. Over the years, people have come up with all kinds of theories to explain the strange happenings in the triangle, ranging from aliens to supernatural forces. The most common theory, however, is that the Bermuda Triangle is simply a complex network of ocean currents and whirlpools that make it difficult for ships to navigate. This doesn’t explain why some ships and planes have been able to make it through the triangle, however.
Conclusion:
Whatever may be the proper reason behind Bermuda Triangle, the mystery still continues. The latest aircraft accident took place over the region in 2017 and the same happened with ship in the year of 2020. But, the history of human race is of progress. Perhaps, someday science will be able to decode the mystery of this triangle revealing many unknown facts to us.