We all know the stories about the mysterious Bermuda Triangle and the strange events that take place there, often leading to disappearances of ships and airplanes. However, as it turns out the triangle is not clearly delineated by any nation or official source and isn’t even considered a specific place distinct from any other part of the ocean.

The stories say that if you enter the Bermuda Triangle you stand a chance of probably not even coming back at all. This legend has become incredibly popular and pervasive. As far as popular culture is concerned, the place is haunted or perhaps run by aliens—the theories are very far-reaching. Some stories claim that ships have been getting lost in the area for a long time, and that compasses don’t work properly in the area.

Many of the theories suggest that some hidden forces, perhaps survivors of ancient Atlantis, or at least their technology, are causing the disappearances. Other people suggest that it is some sort of alien activity, and yet others say that perhaps the Atlantians worked with extra-terrestrial beings. These theories suggest an ancient background to the Bermuda Triangle and its strange ways, which only strengthens the connections in our minds that something of significance is going on there.

However, as it turns out the whole thing is complete nonsense. The “Bermuda Triangle” is not an area recognized as an actual place by the US Navy, or any official source for that matter. Of course the conspiracy theorists will claim that the governments are simply keeping something under wraps, but the truth is there are no more disappearances in the alleged triangle than any other part of the ocean. The ocean is incredibly huge and so it hardly beggars belief that it could hide lost ships or airplanes. What seems to be an enormous piece from a plane could easily end up washed out to a deep part of the ocean you will never be able to access. And that perhaps is where the true mysteries of the Earth are—deep below the water where the pressure is higher than we can bear.

So much for cheap propaganda and lame conspiracies...