The Mysterious Mapimí Silent Zone

The Mapimí Silent Zone is the popular name for a desert patch near the Bolsón de Mapimí in Durango, Mexico.  It is the subject of an urban lore that claims it is a zone where radio signals and any type of communications cannot be receives overlapping the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve. You’re cut off from the rest of the world, gadgets stop working like cellphones, radio, or compass everything breaks down when you enter this land.  Researchers have dubbed this zone as the ‘Mar de Tetys’, or the Sea of Thetys.  This area was once completely submerged in water. The area has evidenced by traces of marine life fossils found in the area. Scientists state the territory has seen an unusually great number of falling meteorites. This could be because of increased magnetism levels observed in the area.

In July 1970, U.S. military launched an Athena test missile near Green River, Utah toward White Sands.  Missile Range lost control and fell in the Mapimí Desert region. When the rocket went off course, it was carrying two small containers of cobalt 57, a radioactive element. After one month of search, the local farmers found and reported the crash in the Northeast corner of the State of Durango. Once the rocket was found, a road was built, and the missile wreckage and a small amount of contaminated top soil were transported away.

In consequences the US Air Force recovery operation found a number of myths and legends relating to the area arose. A local resident hired to guard the crash debris during recovery operations supported spread these rumors. Moreover, legends include "strange magnetic anomalies that prevent radio transmission", mutations of flora and fauna, extraterrestrial visitations. There are lots of stories of aliens and unidentified flying objects in the Zone. People often get lost in the Zone. When this happens, sometimes tall blond beings appear out of nowhere.

The phenomena is now claimed to have been first reported in the 1930s by Francisco Sarabia. A Mexican pilot who was first reported that his radio functions had mysteriously failed while flying over the area. Similar claims have been made by other persons who have visited the zone, that radio signals didn’t work and compasses were unusable. This zone is sometimes compared to the notorious Bermuda Triangle, as both are located between parallels 26 and 28. People come from all over the world to experience this silence zone to look for the ever illusive.  However, sometimes attempt communication with otherworldly beings.

Nevertheless, when it compasses and communications equipment is shown to work accurately in the zone. The local paranormal enthusiasts claim that "the zone moves around". Residents, who do not accept the zone's existence, call such enthusiasts "zoneros" or "silenciosos", and say their activities have an adverse effect on the region. The Zone’s overall effects are disputed. However, without any doubt, this zone sits on the borders of the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila, has an abundance of celestial activity including, visits from UFOs and extraterrestrials. This is a starkly beautiful and compelling part of the world, but it is remote: Escalón has fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, and Ceballos has just over 3,000. Their populations diminished as passenger rail service was abandoned and young people moved to the city or the U.S. Other than a few ranches, the desert itself is essentially empty.

The area has under-explored delights, such as a hacienda abandoned over a century ago, during the tumult of the Mexican revolution, and thermal springs tucked into a cave. If you’re brave enough then come and lost in one of the weirdest location found on earth. This is dry desert and dry season starts between Nov till May.  This is an area surrounded by mesquite, cactus, and guamis—brilliant yellow flowers resembling buttercups. Even so, the legend is now being used to help promote tourism in the region. Other claims are that the area attracts meteorites and causes various mental problems.

Source: CP