Big Foot, the Loch Ness monster, and the Bermuda Triangle: mysterious legends we love

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Big Foot, the Loch Ness monster, and the Bermuda Triangle: mysterious legends we love

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Posted: April 19, 2024 | Last updated: April 19, 2024

<p>Who doesn't love a good legend? The idea of a massive man-beast in living in the woods or a airplanes and ships disappearing into an abyss, we are fascinated by legends. Join us as we take a look at some of the most famous legends out there!</p>

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We all love legends

Who doesn't love a good legend? The idea of a massive man-beast in living in the woods or a airplanes and ships disappearing into an abyss, we are fascinated by legends. Join us as we take a look at some of the most famous legends out there!

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The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is an urban legend focused on a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of planes and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The idea of the area as prone to disappearances arose in the mid-20th century.

<p>While some writers have set the vertices of the triangle in Miami, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Bermuda, others have given different boundaries and vertices, even stretching it as far as the Irish coast. Consequently, the recount of which accidents occurred inside the triangle depends on which writer reported them.</p> <p>Image: By Bermudan_kolmio.jpg: Alphaiosderivative work: -Majestic- (talk) - Bermudan_kolmio.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6916509</p>

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Undefined triangle area

While some writers have set the vertices of the triangle in Miami, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Bermuda, others have given different boundaries and vertices, even stretching it as far as the Irish coast. Consequently, the recount of which accidents occurred inside the triangle depends on which writer reported them.

Image: Wikipedia

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Compasses stopped working

Passing through the Bermuda Triangle, compasses stopped working, ships were swept away by currents, and clouds devoured airplanes in their path, according to some writers.

Image: Sesha Reddy Kovvuri/Unsplash

<p>The first big incident that is usually mentioned is the disappearance of the Atalanta ship. It disappeared with her entire crew after setting sail from the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda on January 31, 1880.</p> <p>By La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, April 30, 1880 - http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/descargaPdf/la-ilustracion-espanola-y-americana--770/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia. org/w/index.php?curid=62595717</p>

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The disappearance of Atalanta

The first big incident that is usually mentioned is the disappearance of the Atalanta ship. It disappeared with her entire crew after setting sail from the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda on January 31, 1880.

By La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, April 30, 1880 - Wikimedia

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Flight 19

Much has also been written about Flight 19, a training flight that left from Fort Lauderdale base in Florida in 1945 and never returned. One of the search and rescue aircrafts deployed to look for them, also disappeared.

<p>It was Charles Berlitz who "invented" the Bermuda Triangle with a book published in 1973. He had heard stories of pilots and sailors who considered that area "cursed", and so decided to compile those enigmatic tales.</p>

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The book that popularized the myth

It was Charles Berlitz who "invented" the Bermuda Triangle with a book published in 1973. He had heard stories of pilots and sailors who considered that area "cursed", and so decided to compile those enigmatic tales.

<p>In an interview given by Charles Berlitz in 1977 to The New York Times, he talked about how the weather changes when entering the Bermuda Triangle. And he said that there are pilots who fly, what they think are a few minutes, only to find that the tank is empty because hours have passed.</p>

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The concept of time is different inside the triangle

In an interview given by Charles Berlitz in 1977 to The New York Times, he talked about how the weather changes when entering the Bermuda Triangle. And he said that there are pilots who fly, what they think are a few minutes, only to find that the tank is empty because hours have passed.

<p>"Other times, the planes arrive at their destination two hours in advance", said Berlitz. “And, on other occasions, ships or airplanes never arrive at their destination.”</p>

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Some planes and ships get lost in time

"Other times, the planes arrive at their destination two hours in advance", said Berlitz. “And, on other occasions, ships or airplanes never arrive at their destination.”

<p>These terrifying stories inspired the film 'The Bermuda Triangle’, directed by Mexican René Cardona Jr and starring John Huston, the director of classics like 'The African Queen', 'The Asphlat Jungle’ and ‘Annie.’</p>

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The Bermuda Triangle: The Movie

These terrifying stories inspired the film 'The Bermuda Triangle’, directed by Mexican René Cardona Jr and starring John Huston, the director of classics like 'The African Queen', 'The Asphlat Jungle’ and ‘Annie.’

<p>However, this legend, which was part of the mystery folklore of the 1960s and 1970s, faded away. And ships and planes no longer disappear in the Bermuda Triangle. If something does happen, there’s a scientific explanation.</p> <p>Image: Charlie Hales/Unsplash</p>

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Disappearances no longer occur

However, this legend, which was part of the mystery folklore of the 1960s and 1970s, faded away. And ships and planes no longer disappear in the Bermuda Triangle. If something does happen, there’s a scientific explanation.

Image: Charlie Hales/Unsplash

<p>For instance, compasses change position abruptly in many places due to natural magnetic variations related to the poles. In addition, the Bermuda Triangle is under the influence of the Gulf Stream, which can affect navigation.</p> <p>Image: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4670129</p>

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The Gulf Stream and other explainable phenomena

For instance, compasses change position abruptly in many places due to natural magnetic variations related to the poles. In addition, the Bermuda Triangle is under the influence of the Gulf Stream, which can affect navigation.

Image: Public Domain

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The lost city of Atlantis

What if the lost city of Atlantis is under the waters of the Bermuda Triangle? Charles Berlitz referred to it in his interview with The New York Times.

Image: NASA

<p>A text of Plato is the origin of the Atlantis myth. For years there has been speculation about its existence and location. The Spanish Canary Islands have been pointed out as the last vestige on the waters of Atlantis. And not long ago, there were those who believed they had found proof of Atlantis.</p>

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The lost continent

A text of Plato is the origin of the Atlantis myth. For years there has been speculation about its existence and location. The Spanish Canary Islands have been pointed out as the last vestige on the waters of Atlantis. And not long ago, there were those who believed they had found proof of Atlantis.

<p>Using this image from Google Ocean (marine equivalent of Google Earth), The Sun newspaper claimed in 2009 that those lines were the ruins of human constructions, proof of Atlantis’ existence.</p> <p>Image: Google Ocean</p>

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The Sun newspaper announced the “discovery” of Atlantis

Using this image from Google Ocean (marine equivalent of Google Earth), The Sun newspaper claimed in 2009 that those lines were the ruins of human constructions, proof of Atlantis’ existence.

Image: Google Ocean

<p>The poor vaquita therefore ends being netted as a bycatch and not the intended target.</p>

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Google clarified the supposed Atlantis findings

Nevertheless, Google was quick to clarify that they were grooves in the water from boat navigation, a mere optical effect, and thus plunged Atlantis back into legend.

<p>There was also a lot of talk, in times prior to globalization, about the yeti, an ape-like creature that lived in the Himalayan Mountain range.</p>

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Yeti: The Abominable Snowman

There was also a lot of talk, in times prior to globalization, about the yeti, an ape-like creature that lived in the Himalayan Mountain range.

<p>Some explorers swore to have seen the yeti in the blizzard. In Tibet this mythical monster is called Jigou. His relatives are the Australian Yowie, the kunk of the South American Andes or the Siberian chuchunga.</p> <p>Image: Jeremy Benzager/Unsplash</p>

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An ape-like beast for every region

Some explorers swore to have seen the yeti in the blizzard. In Tibet this mythical monster is called Jigou. His relatives are the Australian Yowie, the kunk of the South American Andes or the Siberian chuchunga.

Image: Jeremy Benzager/Unsplash

<p>Recorded yeti sightings have always been of a single individual and in extreme weather conditions. Hence, science has given them little reliability. A DNA study carried out in 2017 with alleged yeti remains concluded, according to The Washington Post, that they were bears’.</p> <p>Image: Pixabay</p>

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Yeti sightings are unreliable

Recorded yeti sightings have always been of a single individual and in extreme weather conditions. Hence, science has given them little reliability. A DNA study carried out in 2017 with alleged yeti remains concluded, according to The Washington Post, that they were bears’.

Image: Pixabay

<p>However, the yeti has had a few exceptional witnesses: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (in the image), the first ever climbers who reached Everest’s summit. And Reinhold Messner, the first person to climb 14 summits of the Himalayas without oxygen.</p> <p><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/channel/source/The%20Daily%20Digest/sr-vid-m9m4jvvns2j07r8ryna4ukyusv9y69vg8cgntexr4kid2uw7wgvs?cvid=dd9971d580f24d2fbeb8cf0687eed938&ei=3" rel="noopener">Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.</a></p>

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Distinguished Yeti Spotters

However, the yeti has had a few exceptional witnesses: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (in the image), the first ever climbers who reached Everest’s summit. And Reinhold Messner, the first person to climb 14 summits of the Himalayas without oxygen.

<p>The American version of the yeti, the Bigfoot, is more of the same: a legend of a cross between a bear and a gorilla that lives in the forests of North America.</p>

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Big Foot: North American folklore

The American version of the yeti, the Bigfoot, is more of the same: a legend of a cross between a bear and a gorilla that lives in the forests of North America.

<p>In the 20th century there was still wild and unknown nature within the United States where, according to legend, Bigfoot took refuge. In Eureka, California, this image was captured, alleged graphic proof of the supposed existence of that mythical being.</p>

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A real Bigfoot photo?

In the 20th century there was still wild and unknown nature within the United States where, according to legend, Bigfoot took refuge. In Eureka, California, this image was captured, alleged graphic proof of the supposed existence of that mythical being.

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Bigfoot sightings

Bigfoot sightings spread across North America throughout the 20th century. In the 21st century no one (or almost no one) has seen him.

Image: Greg Rosenke/Unsplash

<p>The same thing happens with the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. Before, people even claimed to have taken pictures of him, like this one, but now, no one has reported seeing him.</p>

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The Loch Ness monster no longer lives here

The same thing happens with the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. Before, people even claimed to have taken pictures of him, like this one, but now, no one has reported seeing him.

<p>Another mystery, very much from the press of yesteryear, is that of crop circles. Attributed to aliens, they were famous in the 1960s and 1970s, and appeared mainly in Australia and the United Kingdom. In 1991 British Doug Bower and Dave Chorley revealed that they had made about 200 for over more than two decades.</p> <p>Image: From Jabberocky - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2484404</p>

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Crop Circles: Signs of Alien Visits?

Another mystery, very much from the press of yesteryear, is that of crop circles. Attributed to aliens, they were famous in the 1960s and 1970s, and appeared mainly in Australia and the United Kingdom. In 1991 British Doug Bower and Dave Chorley revealed that they had made about 200 for over more than two decades.

Image: From Jabberocky - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2484404

<p>The lines make figurative designs of animals and plants. Recent research suggests theirpurpose was related to water; not as an irrigation system, but rather as part of a ritual to the gods: an effort to bring much-needed rain.</p>

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Nazca Lines

What was not the work of two eccentrics, but very old geoglyphs, are the famous Nazca lines in Peru, drawings that can only be seen from the sky, at a considerable height. These are supposed messages to the gods made by the Nazca (pre-Columbian) culture, made between 200 and 600 BC.

<p>Still in 2010 National Geographic went for the title: 'Noah's Ark founds in Turkey?' Because the possibility that some vestige of the biblical ship that sailed during the flood remains hidden somewhere, is something that people want to believe.</p>

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In search of Noah's ark

Still in 2010 National Geographic went for the title: 'Noah's Ark founds in Turkey?' Because the possibility that some vestige of the biblical ship that sailed during the flood remains hidden somewhere, is something that people want to believe.

<p>The aforementioned 2010 article referred to an expedition that claimed to have found remains of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat, located in the area of Turkey bordering Armenia and Iran. This mountain is almost always mentioned as the place where Noah landed after the flood.</p> <p>Image: Daniel Born / Unsplash</p>

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On the heights of Mount Ararat

The aforementioned 2010 article referred to an expedition that claimed to have found remains of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat, located in the area of Turkey bordering Armenia and Iran. This mountain is almost always mentioned as the place where Noah landed after the flood.

Image: Daniel Born / Unsplash

<p>The 2010 expedition told The Daily Mail that it had found seven large wooden compartments buried 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, near the top of Mount Ararat. The discovery was not scientifically sustained and, like many mysteries, it faded away.</p> <p>Image: Pixabay</p>

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The animal ship

The 2010 expedition told The Daily Mail that it had found seven large wooden compartments buried 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, near the top of Mount Ararat. The discovery was not scientifically sustained and, like many mysteries, it faded away.

Image: Pixabay

<p>Ghosts, meanwhile, have been modernized. The iconic white sheet has given way to other forms. Already in 1982 the famous horror film 'Poltergeist' showed how the inhabitants of the afterlife manifest themselves to the living.</p> <p>Image: Kevin Ecate/Unsplash</p>

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Spirits and ghosts

Ghosts, meanwhile, have been modernized. The iconic white sheet has given way to other forms. Already in 1982 the famous horror film 'Poltergeist' showed how the inhabitants of the afterlife manifest themselves to the living.

Image: Kevin Ecate/Unsplash

<p>Legends, folklore, popular beliefs, fantasy or, perhaps, mysterious reality. The unknown side of the universe, summed up in enigmas, sometimes takes fabulous and poetic forms. Other times, without knowing why, these enigmas fade through time.</p>

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An enigmatic world

Legends, folklore, popular beliefs, fantasy or, perhaps, mysterious reality. The unknown side of the universe, summed up in enigmas, sometimes takes fabulous and poetic forms. Other times, without knowing why, these enigmas fade through time.