by Sana Fatima

Created on: January 09, 2008

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, a triangular area in the Atlantic Ocean bounded roughly at its points by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Legend has it that many people, ships and planes have mysteriously vanished in this area.The size of the triangle varies from 500,000 square miles to three times that size, i.e 15000,000 square miles.

The area is one of the most heavily-sailed shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the America, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from the north.

Unusual events in that area date back in recorded history to 1493 and the first voyage of Christopher Columbus (14511506) to the New World.

Countless theories attempting to explain the many disappearances have been offered throughout the history of the area. about why so many air and water ships disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.These involve strange magnetic fields, time warps, the lost continent of Atlantis, and alien abduction. Other proposed explanations include physical forces unknown to science, a "hole in the sky," and an unusual chemical component in the region's seawater. Several books have suggested that an intelligent, technologically advanced race living in space or under the sea has been responsible for jamming equipment and leading ships and planes to disaster. There are lots of natural explanations given by scientists in regards to the disappearance of ships and planes as well, which includes the presence of methane hydrates, compass variations, hurricanes, gulf streams, freak waves, etc

Scientists have speculated that the seabed in this area contains huge amounts of methane gas that is released suddenly due to changes in the sea bed, releasing large, unpredictable plumes of gas that have the capability to swallow ships or planes within minutes - without leaving a trace.

Certainly,electromagnetism has played a role in the mystery surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. This is one of only two places in the world where the compass points true north. However, the fact is that as you circumnavigate the earth you find compass variations of up to 22 percent at various locations. If this compass variation or error is not compensated for, a navigator could find himself far off course and in deep trouble.

Another environmental factor is the character of the Gulf Stream. It is extremely swift and

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