Carlos Solis
The Bermuda Triangle is a section of the Atlantic Ocean that has long been synonymous with missing ships and planes. Entire crews have vanished here, and the reasons behind these disasters are often tangled in rumors of UFOs, mysterious portals, and “deadly gravity.”
One of the most famous disappearances was the USS Cyclops in 1918. Three hundred and six people and a massive ship vanished without a trace: no distress signals were recorded, and no wreckage or belongings from the vessel were ever found. This tragedy marked the beginning of the myth surrounding the “cursed triangle,” as reported by Daily Mail.
Science vs. Myths
Dr. Simon Boxall, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton in the UK, is convinced that there is nothing mystical about it. He believes the primary cause of these mysterious disasters is rogue waves—extreme storm waves that behave like unpredictable walls of water and can reach heights twice that of the surrounding waves.
They have these characteristics:
- they are twice as high as neighboring waves;
- they can reach heights of 30 meters;
- they arise suddenly, often from unexpected directions;
- they can split even a large ship in half.
“If such a vessel gets caught in one, it can sink in two to three minutes,” he explains.
Why This Area?
The Bermuda Triangle is a region where several powerful storms converge. Their energy amplifies the waves, suddenly forming a massive wall of water. This is why this area has become a “hotspot” for extreme waves.
To test this hypothesis, Dr. Boxall’s team created a computer model of the USS Cyclops. The calculations revealed that because of the ship’s flat bottom and large size, the vessel was extremely vulnerable. One wave could lift the ship between the wave’s peaks, leaving the middle of the vessel unsupported over a trough and causing it to split in half.
Other Theories
Not all scientists agree that the triangle is particularly dangerous. For instance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) asserts that the number of disasters in this region does not exceed the global average. Insurance companies share this view, as they do not classify the triangle as a high-risk area. Some experts attribute some accidents to the complexities of navigation among the many islands and shallows of the Caribbean Sea.
Where’s the Truth?
According to Boxall, killer waves can explain at least some of the tragedies. The real danger lies in the ocean’s fury, which can sometimes produce abnormal waves as tall as a ten-story building.
Legends about aliens or “portals to other worlds” linked to the Bermuda Triangle may belong on the pages of science fiction novels. Thousands of people cross this area daily without incident.
Photo: Openverse
