Everyone has heard of the Bermuda Triangle at one time or another. It is a
phenomenon that has puzzled a great many people, it's name forever linked to
the mysterious disappearances that have taken place in the imaginary
triangle. This section hopes to shed some light and propose a number of
plausible theories.
It is also called the Devil's Triangle, Limbo of the Lost,
Hoodoo Sea and
the Twilight Zone. It is one of the biggest mysteries of our time where
paranormal events and unexplained disappearances are alleged to occur.
Latitude and Longitude of the Triangle:
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NW edge, Bermuda: 32.20 N, 64.45 W.
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SW edge, San Juan: 18.5 N, 66.9 W
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NE edge, Miami: 25.48N, 80.18 W
The Bermuda Triangle covers approximately 500,000 square miles of the
Atlantic Ocean. The official dimensions claim that this mysterious area is a
stretch of area located in the region of the western Atlantic Ocean, between
Bermuda; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Miami, Florida. However when you start
plotting ocean disasters that are attributed to the Triangle its boundaries
shift all over the North Atlantic and sometimes into the Eastern Pacific and
Gulf of Mexico.
The "Bermuda or Devil's Triangle" is an imaginary area located off the
southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, which is noted for a high
incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft.
In the passed hundred years, more than 50 boats and 20 airplanes have
mysteriously disappeared. It is unknown what has happened to them. Most of
them mysteriously vanished without a trace. Numerous planes and ships have
vanished there without a trace, often in good weather or near a landing site
or port. Just before disappearing, crews have made radio contact indicating
that nothing was amiss. In rare instances missing ships have been found, but
without their crew or passengers. It was named in 1945, after the
disappearance of six Navy planes and their crews on December 5, a sunny,
calm day with ideal flying conditions. Prior to that scores of ships of all
sizes reportedly had vanished in the area.
Several theories have been developed to explain these disappearances. In
some cases, they can be explained by the unique natural characteristics of
the area.
Countless theories attempting to explain the many disappearances have been
offered throughout the history of the area. The most practical seem to be
environmental and those citing human error. The majority of disappearances
can be attributed to the area's unique environmental features.
First, the "Devil's Triangle" is one of the two places on earth that a
magnetic compass does point towards true north. Normally it points toward
magnetic north. The difference between the two is known as compass
variation. The amount of variation changes by as much as 20 degrees as one
circumnavigates the earth. If this compass variation or error is not
compensated for, a navigator could find himself far off course and in deep
trouble.
An area called the "Devil's Sea" by Japanese and Filipino seamen, located
off the east coast of Japan, also exhibits the same magnetic characteristics
and it is also known for its mysterious disappearances.
Another environmental factor is the character of the Gulf Stream. It is
extremely swift and turbulent and can quickly erase any evidence of a
disaster. This Gulf Stream can be very treacherous for inexperienced
mariners.
A third factor is the unpredictable weather pattern of the Caribbean and the
Atlantic. Sudden local thunder storms and water spouts often spell disaster
for pilots and mariners. A water spout is a tornado at sea that pulls water
from the ocean surface thousands of feet into the sky, this water spout can
wreck almost anything in its path.
A fourth factor is the ocean bottom of that area, the topography of the
ocean floor varies from extensive shoals around the islands to some of the
deepest marine trenches in the world (the deepest point in the Atlantic, the
Puerto Rico Trench, is located in the Bermuda Triangle). With the
interaction of the strong currents over the many reefs the topography is in
a state of constant flux and development of new navigational hazards is
swift.
And finally, not to be underestimated, the human error factor. A large
number of pleasure boats travel the waters between Florida's Gold Coast and
the Bahamas. All too often, crossings are attempted with too small a boat,
insufficient knowledge of the area's hazards, and a lack of good seamanship.
The Bermuda Triangle legend really began in earnest on December 5, 1945,
with the famed bizarre disappearance of Flight 19. Five Navy Avenger bombers
mysteriously vanished while on a routine training mission, as did a rescue
plane sent to search for them -- six aircraft and 27 men, gone without a
trace.
Airplane crew members report sudden power failures, instrument failures, and
their inability to maintain altitude. One theory is that unusual weather
conditions are responsible, other theories propose that phenomena are caused
by alignments of the planets, time warps that trap ships and planes or
forces emanating from the unknown ruins of
Atlantis.
Summary of
Missing Planes
1. 1945, December 5: The entire training flight of five Navy TBM
Avengers.
Plane #s FT-28, FT-36, FT-117, FT-3, FT-81. Crew: 14 2. 1945, December 5: PBM Martin Mariner. Off Banana River, Florida at 28 o
59' NL 80o 25 WL. Crew:13 3. 1947, July 3: a C-54 Douglas en route from Bermuda to Miami in cargo
service. Crew: 7. 4. 1948, January 30: BSAAC Tudor IV Airliner Star Tiger near Bermuda,
northest. 29 crew and passengers, includ ing Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham. GAHNP.
5. 1948, December 28: NC-16002, Douglas DC-3 passenger airliner; south of
Miami on approach to the airport (within 50 miles). crew and passengers: 31.
6. 1949, January 17:Tudor IV Star Ariel (sister of Star Tiger) Bermuda for
Kingston, Jamaica. Crew and pasengers: 19. GAGRE. 7. 1954, October 30: Super Constellation, in Navy service Maryland for Lajes,
in the Azores. Crew and passengers: 42 8. 1956, November 9: Martin Marlin amphibious patrol plane, about 350 miles
north of Bermuda. Crew: 10. 9. 1961, October 15: an 8 engine SAC B-52 "Pogo 22" north of Bermuda while
returning from routine maneuvers. 10. 1962, January 8: Air Force KB-50 Aerial tanker. North Carolina to Lajes,
Azores. Crew: 8. 11. 1962, May 27: a C-133 Cargomaster, between Dover and Lajes, Azores.
Crew:10. 12. 1963, August 28: 2 KC-135 Stratotanker jets mysteriously disintergrate
over the Sargasso Sea, enroute back to Miami from refueling near Bermuda. Crew: 10 total.
13 1963, September 22: another C-133 Cargomaster; Dover for the Azores.
Crew: 10. 14. 1964, February 8: Piper Apache between Grand Bahama Island and West Palm
Beach, Florida. 4 persons. N2157P 15. 1964, December 5: Cessna 140 with 2 persons; off New Smyrna Beach,
Florida. N81089 16. 1965, June 5: a C-119 "Flying Boxcar"; Miami to Grand Turk. Crew: 10.
Was within 100 miles of Grand Turk. 17. 1965, September 15: Beechcraft c18s, with 3 persons, near St. Thomas,
VI, around 7:26 P.M. N8063H 18. 1965, October 31: Cessna 182 somewhere between Marathon Key and Key
West, Florida. 2 persons. N4010D 19. 1965, December 6: Ercoupe F01; between Fort Lauderdale and West End,
Grand Bahama. 2 persons. N99660 20. 1965, December 29: a Piper Cherokee; South Caicos for San Juan. 3
persons. N6077P 21. 1966, April 5: a converted cargo B-25; Fort Lauderdale to Aruba. N92877
22. 1966, September 20: Tampa to Baton Rouge; Piper Commanche. 2 persons.
(see arguments on shape) N7090P 23. 1967, January 11: Chase YC-122; between Fort Lauderdale and Bimini in
the Bahamas. 4 Persons. N122E 24. 1967, January 14: a Beechcraft Bonanza near Key Largo. 4 persons. N7210B
25. 1967, January 17: Piper Cherokee en route St. Thomas from San Juan.
N4129P 26. 1967, July 2: near Mayaguez, PR, a Cherokee. 4 persons. N5100W
27. 1967, August 6: between Miami & Bimini; Piper Cherokee. 3 persons.
N8165W 28. 1967, October 3: Cherokee; Great Inagua for San Juan. N3775K
29. 1967, November 8: Cessna 182; George Town, Great Exuma and Nassau. 4
persons. N7121E 30. 1967, November 22: Cherokee near Cat Island, Bahamas. 4 persons. N9443J
31. 1968, May 29: Cessna 172 near Grand Turk. 2 persons. N1483F
32. 1968, July 8: between Grand Bahama & West Palm Beach; Cessna 180. 2
persons. N944MH 33. 1969, January 5: Piper Comanche between Pompano Beach, FL & North
Carolina. 2 persons. N8653P 34. 1969, February 15: Beechcraft 95-c55 en route Miami from Georgia. N9490S
35. 1969, March 8: big Douglas DC-4 in cargo service; after leaving the
Azores. Crew: 3. N3821 36. 1969, March 22: a Beechcraft between Kingston, Jamaica & Nassau. 2
persons. N609R 37. 1969, June 6: Cessna 172 between Grand Turk & Caicos Island. 2 persons.
N8040L 38. 1969, June 29: a B-95 Beechcraft Executive; Great Inagua for San Juan.
N590T 39. 1969, August 3: Piper PA-22; West Palm Beach to Albion, New Jersey. 2
persons. N8971C 40. 1969, October 11: Pilattus-Brittan-Norman Islander; Great Inagua for
Puerto Rico. 2 persons. N852JA 41. 1970, January 17: Piper Comanche; between Nassau & Opa Locka, FL. 2
persons. N9078P 42. 1970, July 3: between Maiquetia, Venesuela & San Juan, PR. Cessna 310G.
6 persons. N1166T 43. 1970, November 23: Piper Comanche between West Palm Beach & Kingston,
Jamaica. 3 persons. N9346P 44. 1971, March 20: a Cessna 177b with pilot en route Andros Island from
Miami at 3:18 P.M. N30844 45. 1971, July 26: Horizon Hunter Club's rental; near Barbados. 4 persons.
46. 1971, September 10: Phantom II F-4E Jet; on routine maneuvers 82 miles
south of Miami. 2 pilots. 47. 1971, December 21: Cessna 150j with pilot after leaving Pompano Beach;
destination unknown. N61155 48. 1972, October 10: Super Constellation between Miami & Santo Domingo. 4
crew. N564E 49. 1973, March 28: Cessna 172 after leaving West Palm Beach, FL, with
pilot. N7050T 50. 1973, May 25: a Navion A16 between Freeport and West Palm Beach. 2
persons. N5126K 51. 1973, August 10: Beechcraft Bonanza between Fort Lauderdale & Marsh
Harbour, Bahamas. 4 persons. N7956K 52. 1973, August 26: after departing Viaquez, PR; Cessna 150. 3 persons.
N50143 53. 1973, December 20: a Lake Amphibian between Nassau and Bimini. (near
Bimini). 3 persons. N39385 54. 1974, February 10: pilot and his Cessna 414 vanish after leaving
treasure Cay, Bahamas. N8103Q 55. 1974, February 10: that night a Pilattus-Brittan-Norman Islander with
pilot and co-pilot disappear at 7:31 P.M. on approach St. Thomas. N864JA
56. 1974, July 13: Piper PA-32 between West Palm Beach & Walker Cay,
Bahamas. N83CA 57. 1974, August 11: Beech K35 Bonanza after departing Pompano Beach, FL.
for Philadelphia. 2 persons. N632Q 58. 1975, February 25: Piper PA-30; Greensboro, NC. to Freeport, GBI; pilot
only. N414DG 59. 1975, May 2: Cessna "Skymaster"; Fort Lauderdale area. N86011
60. 1975, July 28: Cessna 172; vicinity Fort Lauderdale. 1 N8936V
61. 1975, December 9: Cessna 172; St. Croix to St. Kitts. 1; N5182R
62. 1976, June 4: Beech D50; Pahokee, FL., to Dominican Republic; 2. N1157
63. 1976, August 8: Piper PA-28; Vera Cruz, Mexico to Brownsville, TX; 1.
(See Q&A Arguments on shape) N6377J 64. 1976, October 24: Beech E-50; Opa Locka, FL. to Grand Turk Island.
N5665D 65. 1976, December 28: Piper PA-23; Anguilla to Beef Island; 6. N4573P
66. 1978, February 22: a KA-6 Navy attack bomber vanished from radar 100
miles off Norfolk en route U.S.S. John F. Kennedy; 2. 67. 1978, March 25: Aero Commander 680; Opa Locka- Imokalee, FL. to
Freeport, Grand Bahama; 2. N128C 68. 1978, April 27: Ted Smith 601; Pompano Beach to Panama City, FL.; 1.
N555BU 69. 1978, April 30: Cessna 172; Dillon, SC., to unknown; 1. N1GH
70. 1978, May 19: Piper PA-28 Fort Pierce to Nassau; 4. N47910
71. 1978, May 26: Beech 65; Port-au-Prince to Bahamas; 2. N809Q
72. 1978, July 18: Piper PA-31; Santa Marta, Col. to Port-au- Prince; 2.
N689WW 73. 1978, September 21: Douglas DC-3; Fort Lauderdale to Havana; 4. N407D
74. 1978, November 3: Piper PA-31; St. Croix to St. Thomas; 1. N59912 (right
off St. Thomas) 75. 1978, November 20: Piper PA-23; De Funiak Springs to Gainsville, FL.; 4.
N54615 76. 1979, January 11: Beech A23A; Opa Locka to St. Thomas; 2. N925RZ
77. 1979, April 2: Beech E18s; Fort Lauderdale to Cat Island, Bahamas; 1.
N4442 78. 1979, April 24: Piper PA-28R; Fort Lauderdale to Nassau 4. N7480J
79. 1979, June 30: Cessna 150J; St. Croix to St. Thomas; 2. N60936
80. 1979, September 9: Cessna 182; New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida. 3
persons. N2183R 81. 1979, October 4: Aero Commander 500; Andros Island to West Palm Beach,
FL.; pilot; N3815C 82. 1979, October 27: Piper PA-23; Montego Bay, Jamaico to Nassau; pilot.
N13986 83. 1979, November 19: Beech D50b; Delray Beach, FL to to Key West; 1. N1706
84. 1979, December 21: Piper PA-23; Aguadilla to South Caicos Island; 4
persons. N1435P 85. 1980, February 11: Beech 58; St. Thomas to unknown; only pilot aboard;
reported stolen. N9027Q 86. 1980, May 19: Lear Jet; West Palm Beach to New Orleans; 2. N25NE
87. 1980, June 28; Erco 415-D; Santo Domingo, DR., to San Juan, PR; 2
persons. Pilot reported UFO before disappearing. N3808H 88. 1981, January 6: Beech c35; Bimini to Nassau; 4 persons N5805C
89. 1982, July 5: Piper PA-28R-201T; Nashville to Venice, FL.; 4. N505HP
90. 1982, September 28: Beech H35; Marsh Harbour to Fort Pierce, FL.; 2.
N5999 91. 1982, October 20: Piper PA-31; Anguilla to ST. Thomas, VI. 8 persons.
Charter Service. N777AA 92. 1982, November 5: Beech 65-B80; Fort Lauderdale to Eleuthera Island,
Bahamas; 3 persons. N1HQ 93. 1983, October 4: a Cessna T-210-J; Andros Town, Bahamas to Fort Pierce,
FL.; 3 persons. N2284R 94. 1983, November 20: Cessna 340A disappeared near Orangeville, Fl.; pilot.
N85JK 95. 1984, March 12: a Piper between Key West and Clearwater, Florida; 4
persons. N39677 96. 1984, March 31: Cessna 402b between Fort Lauderdale and Bimini; 6
persons. N44NC 97. 1984, December 23: Aeronca 7AC between Cross City, Florida and Alabama;
pilot. N81947 98. 1985, January 14: a Cessna 337 in Atlantic northeast of Jacksonville; 4
persons. N505CX 99. 1985, May 8: Cessna 210k; Miami to Port-au-Prince, Haiti; pilot. N9465M
100. 1985, July 12: Piper between Nassau and Opa Locka; 4 persons. N8341L
101. 1985, August 3: a Cessna 172; somewhere near Fort Meyers, FL.; pilot.
?? 102. 1985, September 8: a Piper northeast of Key West at 10:08 P.M. en route
from Fort Lauderdale; 2 persons. N5488W 103. 1985, October 31: Piper at 8:29 A.M. ; between Sarasota, FL. and
Columbus, Georgia; pilot. N24MS 104. 1986, March 26: a Piper en route from Miami to West End or Freeport, GBI.; 6 persons. N3527E
105. 1986, August 3: A Twin Otter charter, around St. Vincent; 13 persons.
106. 1987, May 27: a Cessna 402c; between Palm Beach, FL. and Marsh Harbour,
Great Abaco,Bahamas; 1. N2652B 107. 1987, June 3: a Cessna 401; Freeport to Crooked Island; 4 persons.
N7896F 108. 1987, December 2: Cessna 152; La Romana to nearby San Juan; pilot.
N757EQ 109. 1988, February 7: a Beechcraft over the Caribbean Sea; 4 persons. N844G
110. 1989, February 6: a Piper; after departing Jacksonville, Florida; pilot
despondent. 1. N6834J 111. 1990, January 24: Cessna 152 on instructional flight; near West Palm
Beach, FL. 2 persons. N4802B 112. 1990, June 5: Piper; St. Maarten to St. Croix; pilot. N7202F
113. 1990, August 10: Piper; between Sebastian, FL. and Freeport, GBI.; 4
persons. N6946D. Body found off Virginia. 114. 1991, April 24: Piper Comanche; off Florida; pilot. N8938P
115. 1991, May 30: near Long Boat Key; Piper signalled directional gyro not
working; spun into ocean; 2. N6376P 116. 1991, October 31: Grumman Cougar jet; over Gulf of Mexico; vanished on
ascent while on radar; 2. N24WJ 117. 1993, September 30: Within Miami sector; Cessna 152 with only pilot on
board. N93261 118. 1994, August 28: Piper PA-32; Treasure Cay, Bahamas to Fort Pierce; 2
persons. N69118 119. 1994, September 19: Piper PA-23; over Caribbean; 5. N6844Y
120. 1994, December 25: Piper PA-28; unknown; over Florida; pilot. N5916V
121. 1996, May 2: Aero Commander; Atlantic/Caribbean; vanished with 3 in
charter service. N50GV 122. 1998, August 19: Piper PA-28; Atlantic\Caribbean; 4. N25626
123. 1999, May 12, Aero Commander N6138X; near Nassau only pilot aboard.
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The Green
Flash
The “Green Flash,” a
rare phenomena seen most frequently in the area of the Bermuda
Triangle. It is the reflection of light off of something that
is otherwise invisible in the atmosphere.
Whatever this invisible
element might be, it is only visible at certain moments when the
rays of the setting sun reflect off of it. Another rare view below.
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