The mystery of the Bermuda Triangle: what is the truth?
Where it is, the story of "Flight 19", who coined the name, and why scientists do not consider it more dangerous than any other busy stretch of ocean.
Rohit Tandon · 31 October 2026 · 4 min read
A stretch of the Atlantic Ocean where ships and planes are said to vanish mysteriously — this story has thrilled people for decades. The area is called the Bermuda Triangle, also nicknamed "the Devil's Triangle". But how much of a mystery is the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, really? Here are both the stories and the science.
Where is the Bermuda Triangle?
It is an imaginary triangle in the North Atlantic, whose three corners are usually taken to be Miami in Florida (USA), the island of Bermuda and San Juan in Puerto Rico. It has no official boundary — different writers have described it with different shapes. No government or international body recognises it as a separately dangerous zone.
Where did the stories begin?
| Year | Event / milestone |
|---|---|
| 1918 | The US Navy cargo ship "USS Cyclops" went missing with about 300 people |
| 5 December 1945 | "Flight 19" — five US Navy planes vanished on a training flight; a plane sent to search for them did not return either |
| 1964 | The writer Vincent Gaddis first used the term "Bermuda Triangle" in a magazine article |
| 1974 | A book by Charles Berlitz made it famous worldwide |
| 1975 | The researcher Larry Kusche found that many of the stories had been exaggerated |
What does science say?
According to NOAA, America's ocean and weather agency, and the US Coast Guard, there is no evidence that more ships or planes disappear here than in other busy stretches of ocean. Natural causes are enough to explain the accidents that did happen:
- A very busy route: it is among the busiest sea and air routes in the world — where there are more ships, more accidents will be recorded.
- The Gulf Stream: this fast ocean current carries debris away very quickly, making searches difficult.
- Sudden storms: violent storms, high waves and waterspouts can form suddenly here, and the area lies in the path of hurricanes.
- Deep water: the nearby Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest part of the Atlantic, where wreckage is very hard to find.
- Human error: getting lost in bad weather and technical faults are also major causes.
Did you know? As early as the 1970s, "Lloyd's of London", the famous marine insurance market, said there was no need to charge higher premiums for ships crossing the Bermuda Triangle, because the area is no more dangerous than other sea routes.
The truth about Flight 19
The investigation into Flight 19 found that the flight leader believed his compasses were faulty and had lost his way. In bad weather and fading light, the planes probably wandered until their fuel ran out and they came down in the sea. The "Mariner" plane sent to search for them was notorious for catching fire from fuel leaks, and a nearby ship reported seeing flames in the sky. These were tragic accidents, not the work of anything supernatural.
Read about the real forces of the sea in The oceans of the world and Cyclones and hurricanes.
Key points
- The Bermuda Triangle is an imaginary area between Miami, Bermuda and Puerto Rico.
- The term "Bermuda Triangle" was coined by Vincent Gaddis in 1964.
- "Flight 19" in 1945 is its most famous story.
- According to NOAA, accidents here are no more frequent than in other busy areas.
- Storms, the Gulf Stream and human error are the main causes of accidents.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Bermuda Triangle?
In the North Atlantic, in the area usually taken to lie between Miami (Florida), Bermuda and San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Is the Bermuda Triangle really dangerous?
According to scientists, it is no more dangerous than other busy stretches of ocean in the world.
More articles: Interesting facts · Geography questions.
Sources
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