The Bermuda Triangle Mysteries

1. The Bermuda Triangle Mysteries “No doubt you have wondered about the Bermuda Triangle. It is the greatest modern mystery of our supposedly well understood world: a region of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, where disappearances of ships and planes defy explanation” (Gian Quasar, www.bermuda-triangle.org). “The Bermuda Triangle is one of the greatest unexplained mysteries of modern times. The Bermuda Triangle [is] also known as The Devil’s Triangle” (caesar, www.unsolved-mysteries.com).

2. Table of Contents • Statement… • What Was Flight 19? • Scientific Theories • Scientific Theories Continued… • Supernatural/Paranormal Theories • Supernatural/Paranormal Theories Continued… • Experts Say… • Experts Say Continued… • My Opinion • Reference Sites

3. Statement… • There have been many disappearances associated with The Bermuda Triangle: • Ellen Austin (Found a mysteriously deserted ship that sailed through the area in 1881) • USS Cyclops (The ship and crew of 309 vanished in 1918) • SS Marine Sulphur Queen (A civilian tanker carrying bulk molten sulphur sank in 1963) • Various aircraft disappearances between 1942 and 2002 • However, I will be focusing on probably the most famous case: • Flight 19

4. What Was Flight 19? • “It is the disappearance in peacetime of an entire squadron of 5 US Navy torpedo bombers and their crews while flying a routine training mission off Florida on December 5, 1945” • The squadron was led by Lieutenant Charles Taylor • Reported his and the rest of the squadron’s compasses failed and they were hopelessly lost • After a couple more hours of flying, they were running out of fuel • Eventually radio signals died out, and there was no further communication with the flight • The Mariner, a search and rescue aircraft, was sent out to find Flight 19 • While searching, The Mariner,too, disappeared and was never heard from again

5. Scientific Theories • Live bombs in the ocean • Some may have been left from past wars • Ships sail over them, causing them to explode • Methane Hydrates • There are vast fields of methane hydrates off the southeastern coast of the US, around the edge of The Triangle • Methane eruptions in the ocean can lessen the density of the water, making it inadequate buoyancy for ships • Likewise, methane could have changed the density of the air for planes, thus providing not enough lift • Tidal Waves • They can reach 100 feet in height and are known to take out large ships instantly and easily • Though rare, ocean currents cause tidal waves to erupt in some areas more than others • Waves can be caused by rising methane seeping from the ocean floor

6. Scientific Theories Continued… • A downed Comet • About 11,000 years ago, a comet may have crashed into The Bermuda Triangle area • Scientists believe it could have strange electromagnetic properties that throw off compasses and aircraft engines • Magnetic Fields Askew • It is said The Bermuda Triangle is one of the two places where a compass points true north instead of magnetic north • In the 19th century, it was known to point true north, but Earth’s magnetic fields are constantly changing, therefore varying compasses • Human Error • Unpredictable Weather • Sea Piracy

7. Supernatural/Paranormal Theories • A time vortex a.k.a. “electronic fog” • A strange fog that, when flown into, reportedly causes compasses to spin wildly • Floridian pilot Bruce Gernon reported that he flew into such a cloud and ended up in an area miles away from where he was originally • He concluded he must have gone through some sort of time vortex • UFOs and/or Alien Astronauts • Aliens possibly take our people, planes, ships, and other objects to their planet to study • Some think the objects are sent to another dimension • Sea Monsters • Giant, prehistoric-like monsters sink the ships • Atlantis • Magic crystals left over from the fabled sunken city lie within The Triangle and supposedly cause ships and aircraft to crash and sink • Some believe there is a connection between the “Bimini Road” and Atlantis that causes mysterious things to happen

8. Supernatural/Paranormal Theories Continued… • Government Testing • AUTEC (Atlantic Test and Evaluation Center) is stationed on Andros Island, right in the center of The Triangle • Some believe they don’t just test subs, weapons, and sonar, but rather “reverse-engineered alien technology” in association with extraterrestrials…Could it take down ships and planes?

9. Experts Say… • Michael McDonnel • Wrote an article for the Naval Aviation news in 1973 • Concluded Flight 19 simply ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean • The flight could have been flying through a magnetic storm, causing all compasses to malfunction • Even though the pilots were experienced, the flight was a training flight…All people make mistakes • As for the lack of wreckage found, the planes were most likely destroyed on impact, and the crewmen probably killed. Had any of the crew survived, they would not have lasted long in the icy water • The bodies would have probably been eaten by the sharks or barracuda that infested the waters

10. Experts Continued… • Lieutenant Commander Peter Quinton • Meteorologist and satellite liaison officer with the Fleet Weather Service at Suitland, MD • Says The Bermuda triangle is “notorious for unpredictable weather” • If the area is large enough, a thunderstorm can turn into an intense hurricane…But hurricanes can usually be spotted by meteorologists using satellite surveillance. • It is the small, violent thunderstorms known as meso-meteorological storms that they can't predict since they are outside of normal weather patterns. • Allen Hartwell • Oceanographer with Normandu Associates • Waterspouts (Basically tornadoes over the ocean) can pull, raise up, and destroy practically anything • The Triangle has perfect ocean currents of cool and warm water to create such a formation

11. My Opinion… • Before I researched this topic, I leaned more toward the supernatural side…I mean, the world is extremely mysterious, and you never know if things really are what they seem. • However, I now believe The Bermuda Triangle to be nothing more than a freakish area in the ocean. Why? • The many scientific theories cover most, if not all, mysterious aspects of The Triangle, making the disappearances natural

12. Reference Sites • http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_bermuda_triangle1_theories.htm • http://science.discovery.com/top-ten/2009/bermuda-triangle-theories/bermuda-triangle-theories-03.html • http://www.bermuda-triangle.org/ • http://www.bermuda-triangle.org/html/the_disappearance_of_flight_19.html • http://www.unsolved-mysteries.com/unexplained_events/bermuda_triangle.html