Famously known
as the Bermuda Triangle, this legendary expanse of ocean can be found between
the points of Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. It is a loosely defined region
in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean, where a number of aircraft
have disappeared and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious
circumstances. Pilots have often told of their instruments malfunctioning. Oh,
there are all kinds of ‘rational’ explanations ranging from gas bubbles to aliens,
no one is sure what is behind the strange phenomena. Of course you know about
the loss of Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy bombers on a training mission.
People who promote the idea of the Bermuda Triangle have used a number of
supernatural concepts to explain the events. One explanation points to leftover
remnants from the mythical lost continent of Atlantis. We’ll talk about
Atlantis later. The truth is that the area is one of the most heavily traveled
shipping lanes in the world, as ships cross through it daily for ports in the
Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful
traversing its waters, and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between
Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and
private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from
points north. Is there something to the Triangle or is it merely hype, an area
that has had its share of incidents because there is such heavy traffic? Why would
some planes and ships be affected, but others are not? Well, that’s for the
reader to determine. The Bermuda Triangle has inspired many references in
social culture including the song ‘Bermuda Triangle Blues’ by Blondie, a
personal favorite of mine.
