A lot of people around the world have been fascinated with the mysterious Bermuda Triangle for decades. However, what most people don’t know is that a similar triangle has existed in the Pacific Ocean for centuries, known as the Dragon’s Triangle, or the Devil’s Sea. Since ancient times, this region has been known for the unexplained loss of ships and planes. The people have tried various explanations ranging from sea dragons to paranormal activity to aliens and weather conditions. Even though some research has been done in this area, a lot remains to be discovered about this mysterious and elusive part of the world.
The Dragon’s Triangle: One of the Vile Vortices
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Researchers have been somewhat late in their exploration of the Dragon’s Triangle. Even then, the findings they have managed to accumulate offer interesting ways to understand this phenomenon. A single explanation has not yet been presented as scientists and researchers continue to try out various theories and hypotheses. As a beginner’s guide to the Dragon’s Triangle, this article lists 50 strange facts about the Dragon’s Triangle which you probably did not know about.
50. Recorded History Dating To 1274
Dragon’s Triangle has been recorded in history as early as in the year 1274. In fact, it is one of the factors that protected Japan against sea invasions by the Mongol king Kublai Khan. It is known that almost 40,000 members of his forces were lost in this region in their attempt to invade Japan.
49. Similarity With Other ‘Triangles’
Even though the Bermuda Triangle is the most popular of such notorious triangles, there are other relatively less known triangles in the world. Two of these are Alaska and the Nevada Triangles that present similar mysteries to the human race. Interestingly, all of these regions can be mapped as a triangle.
48. The Devil’s Sea
Due to the unexplained activities and events taking place in the Dragon’s Triangle, the Japanese have termed this part of the Pacific Ocean as the Devil’s Sea. This is not an accepted geographical term. Rather, it is a cultural expression of how people view this area.
47. Diametrically Opposite The Bermuda Triangle
Dragon’s Triangle is only second to the Bermuda Triangle in its notoriety for ships lost at sea. Dragon’s Triangle is a triangular stretch of sea that lies in the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, both these regions lie at exactly the opposite points from one another, which is a strange coincidence.
46. A Taiwanese Connection
Because of the inexact mapping of the Dragon’s Triangle, it is believed that the region stretches out to Taiwan, which makes it an interesting feature of the island nation. It is possible that Chinese researchers could help carry out more studies in this region.
45. Erratic Water Temperatures
Dragon’s Triangle is unique in that it experiences warm and cold currents simultaneously. It is possible that the mixing of such currents might create electromagnetic phenomena which could cause the ship’s navigational equipment to malfunction. This might be a reason for the disappearance of many a vessel in this region.
44. Circumventing The Devil’s Triangle
Japan invested time, money, and human resources on resolving the mystery around the Dragon’s triangle for years. As a result, Japan didn’t only lose lots of investment but hundreds of precious lives. The country has since then avoided commercial activities in this region to prevent further loss. Commercial vessels steer clear and all the research programs were put to a halt to avoid further loss of lives.
43. Surrounded By Stormy Waters
The Dragon’s Triangle is aptly situated in a region marked by stormy and choppy waters. No wonder, they named it the Devil’s Sea. Storms and whirlpools are regular phenomena in this region which might be one of the reasons for so many ships and sailors to mysteriously vanish in this part of the world.
42. Alien Conspiracies At Work
Along with dragons, alien life has also been blamed for the unaccountable activities in the Dragon’s Triangle. In fact, there are a whole lot of conspiracy theories that seek to explain the existence of alien life in this region that leads to ships disappearing into thin air. There’s proof associated with UFO sighting by Google Maps.
41. Relation with Atlantis
The Lost City of Atlantis is one of the most endearing mysteries of the old world. However, there are many who believe that the lost city somehow made its way to the Dragon’s Triangle and lies beneath its mysterious waters. Of course, there is no way to either prove or disprove this far-fetched theory.
40. The Bermuda Triangle of the Pacific
Due to the fact that the Dragon’s Triangle remains a mystery and is as puzzling as the Bermuda Triangle, the region is also known as the Bermuda Triangle of the Pacific Ocean. And even though there are many mysteries abound this region, it has not been as well-known in popular culture as the Bermuda Triangle.
39. Storms At Sea
The Dragon’s Triangle lies within the Pacific Rim region, an area notorious for oceanic storms, typhoons, thunderstorms, and volcanic activity. Hence, these phenomena might be part of the reason for the disappearance of so many ships at sea, even though people might be interested in more supernatural explanations.
38. Limited Scientific Activity
Compared to the popular Bermuda Triangle, the Dragon’s Triangle has hardly carried out any scientific activity in the ocean. This might be partly due to the fact that geographers have been unable to mark the actual extent of this region which might have helped researchers to carry out some kind of investigation.
37. The Legend Of Genghis Khan
In the year 1281, Genghis Khan attempted to accomplish an aborted mission of his grandfather Kublai Khan, by sending a ship to Japan across the Dragon’s Triangle. Fortunately for the Japanese, the ship got caught in a typhoon and sunk with its entire crew. This is probably one of the biggest losses of the Mongol Empire.
36. The Actual Extent Of The Region Is Unmapped
Because of its low profile, the actual extent of the Dragon’s Triangle has not been mapped accurately. What is known is that lies approximately 100 km off of Tokyo’s coastline. It is also close to the islands of Miyake and Iwa Jima.
35. Bordering The Philippines
Even though most of the region lies along the Japanese coast, a tiny sliver almost touches the waters of the Philippines, making it a shared heritage of both nations. It is not known whether any voyages or explorations have been carried out by the Philippines, but more evidence may be unearthed through the collaboration of researchers from these two countries.
34. Increased Electromagnetic Activity
The biologist Ivan Sanderson attempted to explain the unusual activity of Dragon’s Triangle with reference to higher than usual electromagnetic activity in the region. In fact, Dragon’s Triangle is one of 12 such sites marked as ‘vile vortex’ by the famous scientist.
33. The Appearance Of Volcanic Islands
Devil’s Triangle is a region that is constantly changing under the forces of volcanic and seismic activity under the sea. This gives rise to new islands that ascend from time to time due to volcanic landforms. As is typical in many areas of underwater volcanoes, these temporary islands can remain visible for several months before disappearing again under the depths of the sea.
32. The Mysterious Voyage Of Kaio Maru
Kaio Maru was a research vessel sponsored by the Japanese government to carry out research in the Dragon’s Triangle. The project began in 1952 with 31 people on board the ship. However, the ship was soon lost and none of the 31 members were recovered. The ship was later found wrecked on the shore.
31. Intense Volcanic Activity
The region around the Dragon’s Triangle is known for its high levels of volcanic activity, especially undersea volcanoes that produce large amounts of lava. These can often be undetected but can produce waves strong enough to bring down large ships at sea. It can also result in underwater earthquakes.
30. The Mystery Of The Unknown Sailor
If the legend is to be believed, there are accounts of a vessel being spotted by people along the coast during the initial years of the 1800s. Interestingly, the accounts claim the vessel to resemble the shape of a traditional incense burner while the sailor was a young woman of unknown identity. Such mysteries have fuelled a regular stream of stories related to the Devil’s Triangle.
29. Located Near The Deepest Trench In The World
The Mariana Trench is the deepest point in the earth and lies close to the Devil’s Triangle. Among other strange facts about the Dragon’s Triangle, geographers have attempted to explain the mystery of Devil’s Triangle through the Mariana Trench and the undersea environment created by it. Hence, it is possible that methane discharge and tectonic activity in this region might be the cause of the Devil’s Triangle being such a death trap for ships.
28. A Central Connection
Even though this claim has not been proven scientifically, many people claim that the Bermuda Triangle and Dragon’s Triangle are geographically connected. In fact, it is said that if one travels from the middle point of the Bermuda Triangle straight in the opposite direction, it would lead them to the middle of the Dragon’s Triangle, and vice versa.
27. Ghost Ships Spotted
People have reported ghost ships in these waters as well as strange lights above the water surface. Many a time, the ships crossing this region have had their equipment malfunction all of a sudden without any rational cause.
26. Alternative Scenarios
Many people have hypothesized about the situation had the Dragon’s Triangle not existed. What if Kublai Khan or Genghis Khan had been successful in their invasions? What would their rule over the Japanese islands have been like? How would it have affected the culture and religion of the country and would they have used this as a springboard for more invasions in the region? Perhaps these are questions to which answers may never be found.
25. Japan’s Lack Of Interest
During the 40s and 50s, Japan sponsored numerous investigations into this region, almost all of which disappeared to the depths of the ocean. In this way, Japan suffered huge financial losses as well as the loss of its citizens. Eventually, popular sentiment prevented Japan from launching further investigations in this region.
24. No Research Since 1952
1952 was the year in which a Japanese research expedition sunk in this region, with a loss of 31 lives. Since then, the government forbade any more research in this region. It can only be imagined how much knowledge lies unexplored under the waves of the Dragon’s Region and when we can venture the next research expedition in this region.
23. Missing Military Boats
The 1950s were a decade when many Japanese military vessels went missing in the Dragon’s Triangle. Even an official search operation could not find a trace of these vessels which was a huge question mark on the ability of the government to protect its military assets.
22. Disappearing Fishing Boats
There are recorded instances of scores of fishing boats being lost at sea in this region, particularly off the waters of the Miyake-Jima island and the Iwo-Jima island. This trend continued for nearly two decades after which fishermen stopped venturing out into the waters and identified alternate fishing waters.
21. Reports Of Sea Monsters
Dragons are mythical creatures common in many Pacific legends. Obviously, their movement in waters is a common explanation for storms and rough seas. In 1944, there were reports of a pilot having spotted a 150-feet long creature in the sea while flying above the Dragon’s Triangle.
20. USO Activity
Closely related to the sea-dragon myth is the theory of unexplained submerged objects or USOs which might be what the early witnesses mistook as dragons under the sea. There is some documentary evidence such as photographs to support the view that objects resembling UFOs were spotted in the waters of the Dragon’s Triangle.
19. Portal To A New Dimension
While this might seem far-fetched, there have been claims that the inexplicable loss of time might be proof of the presence of a portal to a different dimension. In fact, people have frequently entertained the possibility of a black hole existing beneath the Dragon’s Triangle.
18. The Ogasawara Islands
The Ogasawara Islands lie in the southeast region of the Dragon’s Triangle. These islands are also known as the Bonin Islands and are the site for most of the ships’ disappearances, including the 192 research expedition sent by the Japanese government.
17. Charles Berlitz
In 1989, Charles Berlitz published a book titled Dragon’s Triangle in which he reported the loss of 700 people in this region in the years 1952-54. This was a major revelation since this was the highest number of such deaths in recent history.
16. Methane—An Invisible Threat
The seabed below the Dragon’s Triangle is home to large deposits of methane gas, which can release from the seabed and rise to the surface of the ocean. This changes the composition of the water which can cause seaworthy ships to sink unexpectedly. The problem is that methane does not leave any sign of its activity that might warn the crew of the ship.
15. Recourse To Mythology
Because scientific answers have not yet been provided, many people have resorted to mythology to explain this mysterious phenomenon. Some of the theories explain the presence of undersea dragons who spew fire which causes the disruption of oceanic currents and the resulting loss of ships and lives at sea.
14. Larry Kusche
Charles Berlitx’s claims were short-lived since only a few years later in 1995, Larry Kusche published his book titled The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved. In this book, among other arguments and claims, he challenged the claim made by Berlitz by arguing that the loss of 700 people that he talks about took place because of fishing in deep waters and not because of any unexplained mystery.
13. Legend Versus Reality
The Chinese community has maintained a long-standing legend dating more than 3000 years into history about sea dragons. For many years, people have believed many strange facts about the Dragon’s Triangle, including that the waters in the Pacific are inhabited by such dragons. However, scientific evidence supports the view that this region is dangerous because of its unique geographical, geological and climatic features.
12. The Role Of Technology
Much of the damage in this region took place at a time when scientific technology was not as sophisticated as it is today. Weather monitoring systems and satellites were fairly basic, making it difficult to avoid the loss that took place. However, today, with modern weather and sea monitoring systems, the region can become safe for commercial use.
11. Strange Lights And Noises
Among the different sights and sounds that are reported in this region are reports of unidentifiable lights and noises, especially during the night. Such reports date back to the Ancient Chinese period when Chinese vessels plied these waters to conduct trade.
10. Disruption Of Navigational Equipment
Even though a large number of ships have gone missing in this region, those that have managed to return safely have reported the navigational equipment going awry. In fact, while passing through the Dragon’s Triangle, the compass and radio of the ship failed to perform their normal function. This has largely been attributed to the effect of electromagnetic waves in this part of the Pacific Ocean.
9. Almost 700 People Lost At Sea
According to most estimates, more than 700 individuals have gone missing in the Devil’s Triangle, many of whose bodies have never been found. This makes this one of the most mysterious as well as the most dangerous regions of the world.
8. Sanaku-Nami Waves
The Japanese have attempted to explain the phenomena taking place in the Dragon’s Triangle region by explaining the waves that emerge in this region. They have used the term sanaku-nami which translates into English as three-directional waves. In other words, the events in this region might be due to the confluence of waves originating from three different directions.
7. Wartime Activities
Interestingly, despite the dangers and legends associated with Dragon’s Triangle, the region was the center of military activity during the Second World War, a lot of Pacific Ocean countries such as Japan and the United States were active players in this war and frequently used the Dragon’s Triangle as the site of naval battles.
6. Yamatai Island
The Dragon’s Triangle is largely mapped between the Yamatai Island, the island of Guam and the Philippine Sea.
5. Flight 19
Flight 19 was a set of 5 military warplanes that went missing while flying over the Dragon’s Triangle during the Second World War in 1945. The formation was coming in from Florida and lost contact with the control station on 5 December 1945, resulting in an unprecedented loss of people in a single incident.
4. Electronic Fog
John Hutchison is a physicist who has made many outrageous claims about his inventions and achievements. Among these is his claim of creating electronic fog, which has been cited as one of the reasons behind the mysteries of the Dragon’s Triangle.
3. Oceanic Currents
One of the theories about the mysterious disappearances of ships in Dragon’s Triangle relies on the effects of oceanic currents. According to this theory, the currents in the Devil’s Sea can move debris of a sunken ship or plane across a large distance in very little time.
2. Two Decades Of Silence
After the loss of the Kaio Maru in 1952, almost no research or investigation was carried out for nearly two decades. This has created a dearth of scientific data on which today’s researchers could have carried out more detailed studies and investigations about this region. This has been a huge loss for researchers and has resulted in the perpetuation of more irrational ideas and myths about this region.
1. A Cautionary Tale
Because of the mysteries of the Dragon’s Triangle, many people living in communities along the Japanese coasts and on neighboring islands have used it to warn people from going too far from the shore. In local folklore, this has given rise to various legends and tales forbidding fishermen from venturing too far into the sea or undertaking daring voyages.
The mystery of Dragon’s Triangle may not be solved anytime soon. Until that happens, conspiracy theorists and fantasists will continue to have a field day coming up with one zany explanation after another. However, for the saner minds amongst us knowing the facts about the region will help to steer away from such illogical ideas and stay focused on the scientific evidence that comes up over the years.