Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Legends, Facts and Unsolved Questions

When you're preparing for a North Atlantic cruise, you may find yourself drawn to the lore of the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle refers to an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where it's said that a number of aircraft and ships have vanished.

Let’s unpack the Bermuda Triangle mystery, the theories that might explain it and how you can explore the region.

Key Takeaways: What Is the Bermuda Triangle Mystery?

● The Bermuda Triangle is a “triangle” of sea that connects Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico. It is located in the same area as the “Devil’s Triangle.”

● The Bermuda Triangle and Devil’s Triangle are both connected to numerous mysterious disappearances of ships and aircraft, many of which involve unexplained circumstances.

● Conspiracy theories that attempt to explain the Bermuda Triangle mystery include alien abductions, Atlantis legends, time warps and dimensional portals.

● Modern, scientific theories that might explain the Bermuda Triangle mystery include compass deviations, ocean currents and methane hydrates.

● Embark on a Bermuda Triangle cruise to experience the North Atlantic’s intrigue for yourself.

Why Is the Bermuda Triangle a Mystery?

The Bermuda Triangle is a mystery because there have been numerous shipwrecks and aircraft reported missing — and never recovered — under largely inexplicable circumstances at the time of the events. These eerie cases beg the question: What precisely is the Bermuda Triangle? Is the Bermuda Triangle real? And, has any evidence ever come up to suggest the legends are true?

What Are the Conspiracy Theories About the Bermuda Triangle Mystery?

Over the years, strange events in the Bermuda Triangle have fueled plenty of wild theories. Here are some of the most widely debated explanations that people still discuss today.

● Alien abductions: Some speculate the area is a popular spot for UFO activity, with ships and planes beamed up by extraterrestrials for reasons unknown.

● Atlantis legends: A few believe the lost city of Atlantis lies beneath the Bermuda Triangle, with ancient technology somehow interfering with navigation and communications.

● Time warps and dimensional portals: Another theory suggests the Triangle hides a warp in space-time, pulling vessels into another dimension or era altogether.

What Modern Theories Explain the Secrets Behind the Bermuda Triangle?

While some Bermuda Triangle enthusiasts still insist today there's a demonic force entrapping ships and planes in its abyss (which possibly leads to another dimension), modern science has suggested more realistic explanations, including:

● Ocean currents: Currents related to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream may impair navigation.

● Bad weather: The frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms in the summer, combined with human error, may have contributed to the disappearances.

● Compass deviations: In one area of the Bermuda Triangle, compasses point true north, rather than magnetic north, which may cause navigational issues. However, this phenomenon is not unique to the Bermuda Triangle.

● Massive rogue waves: Scientists have floated the idea that sudden monster waves could explain some disappearances — though there’s no proof they happen more often in the Bermuda Triangle than anywhere else.

● Methane hydrates: Some researchers believe that massive pockets of methane gas, trapped in icy formations under the seafloor, could erupt to the surface. This would lower the water’s density and potentially cause shops to sink.

● Same rate of incidents as anywhere else: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that statistically, the rate of incidents that occur in the Bermuda Triangle is no higher than anywhere else.

Climate Change Speculations

Although modern navigational equipment can counteract most of these impacts (and today's sailors generally avoid heading out to sea when a hurricane has churned the waters), some scientists believe climate change could make the "Bermuda Triangle effect" even more pernicious.

Can You Visit the Bermuda Triangle?

Yes, you can visit the Bermuda Triangle. While it’s not bound by definitive maritime borders, destinations such as Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico are popular cruise locations. When you’re in Bermuda proper, there are plenty of ways to soak it all up.

Enjoy Bermuda By Sea

Although there is (thankfully) no way to get "stuck" in the Bermuda Triangle, you can immerse yourself in the lore by scuba diving through any of the shipwreck sites off the coast of Bermuda. Royal Caribbean also offers bespoke sailing excursions around the archipelago.

Explore Bermuda By Land

If you prefer to stay on land, the best time to visit Bermuda is during the shoulder seasons from April to June or September to October. The climate is more palatable at this time and there are fewer crowds.

Enjoy walks on Bermuda's pink sand beaches and strolls amid the colorful houses and local restaurants of Hamilton, the country's capital city. Alternatively, visit the Ocean Discovery Center at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI). Here, skeptics and fanatics alike can learn all about the Bermuda Triangle mystery, and fact and fiction are clearly laid out for you in fun, interactive ways that will interest the whole family.

Learn About Other Maritime Mysteries And Folklore

The Lost City of Atlantis

First appearing in the writings of Plato nearly 2,500 years ago, the Lost City of Atlantis is one of the most widely discussed (yet least understood) legends of the sea. Some believers in the "lost city" myth hypothesize that the great capital city named Atlantis sat roughly in the middle of the massive, now-sunken landmass. Explorers have claimed to find evidence of Atlantis along the coasts of countries as far east as Greece and Lebanon and as far west as The Bahamas and even the continental United States.

The Formosa Triangle

Sometimes known as the "Formosa Triangle" (referring to a former name for Taiwan), the Devil's Sea is often referred to as the Pacific Ocean's equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. Stretching out just south of Tokyo, past Taiwan to the Philippines, and then over into the Northern Mariana Islands, this mysterious stretch of sea is less discussed than the Bermuda Triangle but has just as macabre a history. When Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disappeared in 2014, some people believed it had dropped into the Devil's Sea.

Lemuria

Another Eastern legend of the sea is Lemuria, which you might characterize as the Atlantis of the Indian Ocean. Sitting roughly where modern-day Sri Lanka now occupies, Lemuria has sparked folklore in a similar way to Atlantis ever since a zoologist hypothesized its existence in the mid-19th century. Some fringe conspiracy theorists go so far as to say humanity originated there. Like Atlantis, there is so far no evidence that Lemuria ever existed.

Mu

Finally, there are also theories about the isolated landmass of Easter Island or Rapa Nui, which famously lies thousands of miles off the coast of mainland Chile. Some curious minds have devised a theory that the modern-day island is all that remains of a continental landmass known as Mu, where the mysterious monoliths that draw tourists from around the world might not have seemed so out of place.

Uncover Bermuda’s Mysteries and Secrets for Yourself

The Bermuda Triangle mystery may never be solved, and Atlantis may be perpetually "lost," but luckily, these maritime myths have taken root in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Beyond diving through ruins in The Bahamas or lounging on the famous pink sands in Bermuda, the intrigue that lies within these magical places just adds to the wonder of your adventure.