2. What is the Bermuda Triangle?What is the Bermuda Triangle?
• The vast three-sidedThe vast three-sided
segment of the Atlanticsegment of the Atlantic
Ocean bordered byOcean bordered by
Bermuda, Puerto RicoBermuda, Puerto Rico
and Fort Lauderdale,and Fort Lauderdale,
Florida.Florida.
• Spans an area of aroundSpans an area of around
500,000 square miles, but500,000 square miles, but
some estimates are up tosome estimates are up to
three times larger.three times larger.
3. What is the Bermuda Triangle?What is the Bermuda Triangle?
• Reports of strangeReports of strange
occurrences have beenoccurrences have been
recorded as early as therecorded as early as the
days of Columbus.days of Columbus.
• Sometimes the CoastSometimes the Coast
Guard answers moreGuard answers more
than 5,000 distress callsthan 5,000 distress calls
within the Triangle perwithin the Triangle per
year.year.
• Also Known As:Also Known As:
““The Devil’s Triangle”The Devil’s Triangle”
4. What is the Bermuda Triangle?What is the Bermuda Triangle?
• First dubbed “The BermudaFirst dubbed “The Bermuda
Triangle” by writer V.Triangle” by writer V.
Gaddis in a 1964 issue ofGaddis in a 1964 issue of
ArgosyArgosy, a magazine, a magazine
devoted to fiction.devoted to fiction.
• Public interest in thePublic interest in the
Bermuda Triangle increasedBermuda Triangle increased
exponentially with theexponentially with the
publication of Charlespublication of Charles
Berlitz’s 1974 bestsellerBerlitz’s 1974 bestseller
The Bermuda Triangle.The Bermuda Triangle.
5. Who the heck started this?!Who the heck started this?!
• 1492 – Columbus’s compass1492 – Columbus’s compass went haywirewent haywire
and it’s reported that he and his crew sawand it’s reported that he and his crew saw
“weird lights” in the sky.“weird lights” in the sky.
• 1892 – The1892 – The Mary CelesteMary Celeste is discoveredis discovered
abandoned on the high seas about 400abandoned on the high seas about 400
miles off its intended course from Newmiles off its intended course from New
York to Genoa. There was no sign of itsYork to Genoa. There was no sign of its
crew of ten or what happened to them.crew of ten or what happened to them.
6. Why do we still believe this?Why do we still believe this?
• In a study of related material, Larry Kushe found that fewIn a study of related material, Larry Kushe found that few
people dopeople do anyany investigation into the mystery whatsoever.investigation into the mystery whatsoever.
They simply passed on the speculations of theirThey simply passed on the speculations of their
predecessors as if they were passing on the mantle ofpredecessors as if they were passing on the mantle of
truth. (AKA – Word of Mouth & Tell A Friend)truth. (AKA – Word of Mouth & Tell A Friend)
• In short, the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle became aIn short, the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle became a
mystery by a kind of communal reinforcement amongmystery by a kind of communal reinforcement among
uncritical authors and a willing mass media to uncriticallyuncritical authors and a willing mass media to uncritically
pass on the speculation that something mysterious ispass on the speculation that something mysterious is
going on in the Atlantic.going on in the Atlantic.
7. Who the heck started this?!Who the heck started this?!
-The REAL Humdinger--The REAL Humdinger-
• December 5, 1945 – “Flight 19”December 5, 1945 – “Flight 19”
• Five Navy planes vanished without a trace on aFive Navy planes vanished without a trace on a
training mission during a severe storm. A rescuetraining mission during a severe storm. A rescue
plane was dispatched to find them and it tooplane was dispatched to find them and it too
never returned. (27 men in all)never returned. (27 men in all)
• An official Navy report of the incident insinuatedAn official Navy report of the incident insinuated
that the planes disappeared... “that the planes disappeared... “as if they hadas if they had
flown to Marsflown to Mars.”.”
8. Common Ailments of the TriangleCommon Ailments of the Triangle
• Strange Magnetic FieldsStrange Magnetic Fields
• Oceanic FlatulenceOceanic Flatulence
• AtlantisAtlantis
• Sporadic Interdimensional TravelSporadic Interdimensional Travel
• Time WarpsTime Warps
• Alien AbductionAlien Abduction
• What have you heard?What have you heard?
9. Why do we still believe this?Why do we still believe this?
• The current truth is so widely and easilyThe current truth is so widely and easily
circulated and believed that the only way tocirculated and believed that the only way to
eliminate it would be for the Navy to make aneliminate it would be for the Navy to make an
announcement to the Nation about it, but as thatannouncement to the Nation about it, but as that
costs lots of money, it’s doubtful they’ll do itcosts lots of money, it’s doubtful they’ll do it
even if they had the inclination to do so.even if they had the inclination to do so.
• Many people have been exposed to the myth ofMany people have been exposed to the myth of
the Bermuda Triangle before they learn the factsthe Bermuda Triangle before they learn the facts
about the incidents in the Bermuda Triangle,about the incidents in the Bermuda Triangle,
which aren’t widely circulated to begin with.which aren’t widely circulated to begin with.
10. The fairest thing to do...The fairest thing to do...
• Correlation – Investigate pastCorrelation – Investigate past incidents withinincidents within
the Bermuda Triangle, searching forthe Bermuda Triangle, searching for
authentic/government-issued reports.authentic/government-issued reports.
• Statistics – Construct a timeline of incidents thatStatistics – Construct a timeline of incidents that
occurred and compare this distribution with thatoccurred and compare this distribution with that
of other treacherous areas of the world’s oceansof other treacherous areas of the world’s oceans
to see if this area’s is significantly higher thanto see if this area’s is significantly higher than
that of other areas.that of other areas.
11. The fairest thing to do...The fairest thing to do...
• Conduct a study – Select a sizable number ofConduct a study – Select a sizable number of
ships (to be determined by researchers) that willships (to be determined by researchers) that will
be passing through the Bermuda Triangle in abe passing through the Bermuda Triangle in a
single year (or multiple years) and survey thesingle year (or multiple years) and survey the
Captain and some of the crew about the voyageCaptain and some of the crew about the voyage
across the Triangle.across the Triangle.
12. What they don’t tell you...What they don’t tell you...
• ““Flight 19”: Nothing but the facts...Flight 19”: Nothing but the facts...
• ““The rescue plane dispatched never returned.” – OnlyThe rescue plane dispatched never returned.” – Only
because it blew up 23 seconds after takeoff. And thisbecause it blew up 23 seconds after takeoff. And this
particular design, the Mariner, was well known for it’sparticular design, the Mariner, was well known for it’s
faulty gas tanks.faulty gas tanks.
• ““No wreckage was ever found” – The planes wereNo wreckage was ever found” – The planes were
possibly so far out in the Atlantic that they passed thepossibly so far out in the Atlantic that they passed the
continental shelf; which would mean the planes sank intocontinental shelf; which would mean the planes sank into
several thousand feet of water. (The deepest point in theseveral thousand feet of water. (The deepest point in the
Atlantic, at 30,100 feet deep, is also located in theAtlantic, at 30,100 feet deep, is also located in the
Puerto Rico Trench within the Bermuda Triangle.)Puerto Rico Trench within the Bermuda Triangle.)
13. The Major holes we overlook...The Major holes we overlook...
• Most of the associated incidents can be explained byMost of the associated incidents can be explained by
rational means.rational means.
• Most of these same incidents blamed on the BermudaMost of these same incidents blamed on the Bermuda
Triangle didn’t occur anywhere near the Triangle. (TheTriangle didn’t occur anywhere near the Triangle. (The
Mary CelesteMary Celeste was discovered off the coast of Portugal.)was discovered off the coast of Portugal.)
• Some incidents recorded as far away as the Pacific areSome incidents recorded as far away as the Pacific are
blamed on the Bermuda Triangle without reason.blamed on the Bermuda Triangle without reason.
• The facts do not support the legend; there is no mysteryThe facts do not support the legend; there is no mystery
to be solved and nothing that needs explaining. Theto be solved and nothing that needs explaining. The
number of wrecks in this area isnumber of wrecks in this area is notnot extraordinary givenextraordinary given
its size, location, and the amount of traffic it receives.its size, location, and the amount of traffic it receives.
