The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle: the myths and the facts.

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle: Table of Contents

Geography Lesson

Recent Myth Debunked
Spatial Disorientation
The Dimensions of the Triangle
The Sargasso Sea
The Gulf Stream
The Ocean Floor
Gas Bubbles from Beyond
UPDATED:Where did it happen?

Not in the Triangle, that's for sure!
Geographic, Celestial, and Magnetic North.
Lloyd's Of London, Maritime Insurance

History Lesson

First known use of the term Bermuda Triangle
Black Boxes, ELTs, & Small Aircraft

Occurrences: The Myths & The Facts

Latitude and Longitude
of the Triangle:
(Before "Creative License" Takes Over)

NW edge, Bermuda: 32.20 N, 64.45 W.
SW edge, San Juan: 18.5 N, 66.9 W
NE edge, Miami: 25.48N, 80.18 W

Dr. Copernicus Award

(Other Awards)

Please direct any comments or any questions
regarding the Bermuda Triangle Page to:
Bermuda Triangle Guestbook

Other Pages
debunking bunk
My Home Page

More Triangle Info:
United States Navy.
The Museum of Unnatural History

INTRODUCTION

Okay Let me tell you right off that the Bermuda Triangle is a myth that started off as old-time stories that sailors used to tell new ship mates to give them the heebie-jeebies. Now let me go on to say that the myths have become a great money making scam by people who like to stretch the truth. With that said, let me add I love the stories of the Bermuda Triangle and I love the way many FICTION writers have used the Bermuda Triangle as a premise for several fascinating STORIES. My beef is with the Pseudo-Scientists who ignore the truth and propogate myths in order to turn a buck.

I should point out that there are also people out there who have gone through experiences that they truely believe were caused by paranormal activity. While scientists can assure them that nothing strange actually happened, they will cling to their belief that something truely strange happened. For them the Bermuda Triangle is as real as the air we breathe. This isn't actual proof in the existence of the Triangle but unfortunately their strong belief is shamelessly used by the perpetrators of the myth. You will find similar witnesses for just about every aspect of the paranormal world. (The belief in Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, UFOs, Area 51, Atlantis, ad nauseum.)

The Purpose of this page is to show the flaws of the pseudo-scientific publications that try to turn the Bermuda Triangle into some mystical place. Current possible theories involve the Lost Civilization of Atlantis, a Warp in the Space/Time Continuum, a Beacon for UFOs, an Intermittent Black Hole, Giant Gas Bubbles and God only knows what else.

While some people will believe this stuff no matter what they read here, this page is an attempt to explain away the myths and get to facts that created them.

What this page will explain is why currents in the area around the Bermuda Triangle can be dangerous, how a ship or plane can be lost without a trace, why many of the occurrences that are truly a mystery cannot be attributed to the Bermuda Triangle, and why most if not all of the so-called mysteries are no more than over-active imaginations.

This page used several sources in its creation. The most important have been provided so you too can check out the truth behind the myth.
sources

ADMINISTRIVIA

All rights and priviledges concenring copyright should, for the time being be directed to (BlindKat.
If you have questions concerning THIS site please send a message to Triangle Guestbook.If you wish to reamin anonymous mark your entry private. I love getting questions from Grammar and High School Students and they get my top priority. (But I won't do YOUR Homework for YOU!)

Who Am I?
I created this web page based on research done in high school back in 1973. I've remained interested in the Bermuda Triangle all the way through College and Graduate School and still remains an avid student of the Bermuda Triangle and things nautical.

However the Bermuda Triangle is not an all consuming interest in my life and I don't have enough time in my life to debunk every half-baked theory that could easily be explained away by the oriiginator if more complete research had been done in the first place.

I lived in an around the area of the Bermuda Triangle for approximately ten years while growing up. I have been researching so-called paranormal activity, particularly the Bermuda Triangle, off and on, for over two decades. I do this as a hobby and not for pay. As you can tell from my home page, I have several other areas of interests.

First Known Use Of The Phrase Bermuda Triangle

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, 2d edition, the first recorded use of the term "Bermuda Triangle" or "Devil's Triangle" was in February, 1964 in an article appearing in Argosy. The article, The Deadly Bermuda Triangle, by V. Gaddis can be attributed to all the hype and craziness centered around the mythical Bermuda Triangle.

For those not familiar with Argosy, maybe its subtitle will give you a clue about what it publishes:

Argosy : Magazine of Masterpiece Fiction.

It has also gone by the name:
The Argosy: A Magazine of Tales, Travels, Essays, and Poems.

Obviously not a major source for nautical research but definitely a place to spin a tale or two.

Sources

The Bermuda Triangle Org.

While I don't agree with many of the conclusions drawn, this is by far the best and most comprehensive site that purports the myths around the Bermuda Triangle. The journalist who does the page claims to do it as a hobby but seems to have connections with many cable channels that continue to purport the myth. The author also likes to trash this site and Larry Kusche's book. Still, it is a very useful site. He has sections devoted to all the major theories. Unfortunately, the theory that weather and nature are the culprits is the one section he has yet to develop (as of March 27, 2001).

He has a low opinion of this site because it is on Tripod and I don't pay for it to be on the web (I'm not sure how this makes my site inaccurate or flawed). He also claims it is easier to just debunk a myth rather than support or create one. The site has lots of pretty pictures, many of which are glorified icons for sponsors (I'm not sure how this differs from a Tripod Banner Ad) and may load slow but is definitely worth a look, despite the difference in opinions.

Kusche, Lawrence David. The Bermuda Triangle Mystery--Solved
(New York : Harper & Row) ©1975, 1995

This 302 page books takes a close look at the most the biggest fraud of the twentieth century. More importantly it reveals where to go for the original sources. Where possible I've looked at the original sources that are discussed in the 13 page bibliography provided to verify the accuracy of this book. All of the other so-called research books that discuss the Triangle as some strange phenomenon have a bibliography of no more than three pages.

Bibliography: p. 279-294. ISBN: 006012475X

This is the book that started it all. It is pseudo-science at its best/worst. The questions that this book ponders have been answered by Kusche. Berlitz could have answered the questions himself if he would have looked at some sources instead of manipulating them... but then his book would have never sold multiple printings and a movie based on the book would have never been made.

Berlitz has since used this book as springboard for bad movies, TV speicals and numerous farfetched theories that claim other mysteries of the oceans. One such mystery is the Dragon's Triangle and strange channeling spots and vortices located through out the world. It would seem from Charles Berlitz point of view is that the whole World is nothing more than a huge homing beacon for extra-terrestrials.

Bibliography: p. (201)-203. ISBN 0385041144

Kusche, Larry. The Disappearance of Flight 19 1st ed.
(New York :Harper & Row) c1980.

A book devoted to Flight 19. Well researched, Kusche tracks down the original sources of the legends and reports what is fact and and fantasy. Answers the most mystifying questions about the famous "Lost Patrol"

Bibliography: p. (203)-205.
ISBN 0060124776

The Case of the Bermuda Triangle (video recording)
(BBC-TV. Stamford, CT : Vestron Video)1988.

An excellent "must see" video, although somewhat dated. I first saw this when it aired on NOVA in 1976. At the time I was skeptical but I could find no explanation for the Bermuda Triangle except for the what Leonard Nemoy gave on In Search Of. This answered the questions that bothered me so. For laughs, you can watch the In Search Of episode and this video back to back.

1 videocassette (60 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. (Nova)
VHS format.
Videocassette release of the 1976 film by WGBH Educational Foundation and BBC Enterprises Ltd.
"1111" On container: Bermuda Triangle.

Credits: Writer-producer, Graham Massey. Summary: Investigates the various myths, stories, and theories that describe and attempt to explain the mysterious occurrences in the Bermuda Triangle.

A nice easy to read general reference book on Oceans. Complete with a two page bibliography and excellent index. The book is well written with lots of nice photographs. Good entries on the Sargasso Sea, water spouts, currents, ocean depths, and a lot of general information that is very useful in understanding the ocean's natural mysteries. (176 pages)

ISBN: 0-8904-4340-6 LC: 83-17909

A good book designed for younger readers. The book describes the Gulf Stream and charts its course, explaining how it affects the entire Atlantic Ocean and in doing so affect the entire world. It has a two page bibliography for further research as well as a glossary and two appendices, one on learning more about the Gulf Stream and the other covers scientific names for Sea Animals. The book is well indexed and while it is written primarily for 8-14 year olds the novice Gulf Stream enthusiast will find it extremely helpful and informative.
(95 pages)

ISBN:0-87518-297-6
LC: 85-6883