The Bermuda Triangle, also called the Devil’s Triangle, is surrounded by numerous conspiracy theories and urban legends. This area of the North Atlantic Ocean is reportedly a place where ships and aircraft mysteriously vanish, with such accounts dating back to the mid-1900s. The exact boundaries of the triangle differ depending on the author, as does its associated lore, with many writers adding supernatural elements to their narratives. While explanations involving “UFOs” and “parallel universes” have been popular, scientists have finally resolved the long-standing mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.

Logical Explanations

For fans of urban legends, the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle has never convinced Australian scientist Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, nor has it persuaded America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Instead, Kruszelnicki argues that the Bermuda Triangle was “never a mystery,” describing it as a series of unfortunate events with entirely logical explanations and probabilities.

The Bermuda Triangle and Other Areas

Over the past century, more than 50 ships and 20 planes have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. However, when considering the high volume of travel through the area, these figures aren’t particularly unusual.

“According to Lloyds of London and the U.S. coast guard, the number of planes that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,” explained Dr. Kruszelnicki. “It is close to the equator, near a wealthy part of the world, America; therefore you have a lot of traffic.”

In a similar vein, the NOAA stated in 2010, “There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean.”

Environmental Cause

The NOAA explains that most disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle can be attributed to natural phenomena. The area is prone to sudden and severe weather changes and is dotted with numerous islands, making navigation more challenging. Additionally, some evidence suggests the Devil’s Triangle has a magnetic pull that causes compasses to point to true north instead of magnetic north, potentially leading to confusion for navigators.

“The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea,” NOAA states. “Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.”