Exploring Mexico’s Zone of Silence: The Bermuda Triangle of the Desert

Nestled within the desolate expanse of northern Mexico lies the enigmatic Zone of Silence, a remote desert region home to one of the world’s most bizarre focal points for reports of the unexplained. From malfunctioning compasses and silent radios to alleged encounters with otherworldly beings, the Zone of Silence in Mexico is shrouded in a mysterious veil of strange happenings that can’t quite be explained.

So are the spinning compasses down to nothing more than an abundance of magnetic rock in the area? Is the allegation that radios are intermittent due to the fact that the area is simply so remote that signals are hard to come by? Are the supposed visions of tall blond extraterrestrials a ploy to drum up the tourist trade? Or is the Silence Zone Mexico’s answer to the Bermuda Triangle, where try as they might, experts simply don’t have all the answers?

Let’s take a trip out to the remote reaches of Northern Mexico in an attempt to shed light on the enigma that is the Zone of Silence.

Situated near the Bolsón de Mapimí, a basin that stretches across the states of Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, La Zona del Silencio is within the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is a 342,000 hectare (3,420 square kilometre) protected area showcasing the unique biodiversity of the Chihuahuan desert region, including over 400 plant species, 200 different species of birds, and dozens of reptiles, amphibians and mammals, including the endangered Bolson tortoise, the Mexican fringe-toed lizard and the Golden eagle.

Millions of years ago, the entire area was an ancient seabed which has resulted in large deposits of sedimentary rocks rich in minerals, including magnetic minerals such as magnetite, which may go some way to explain the region’s supposed magnetic anomalies. In addition, the area was hit by no less than three meteorites in the twentieth century alone, in 1938 and 1954 – incredibly both on the same ranch – and in 1969 in the nearby Allende Valley.

The frequency of meteorite impacts in this region has contributed to its reputation as an unusual area. Some scientists have speculatively theorised that the remnants of these meteorites may give off magnetic properties, potentially explaining why so many iron-rich objects from space end up in the Zone of Silence in Mexico, but it’s important to note that while these meteorite impacts are documented events, some of the more extraordinary claims about the area’s properties remain nothing more than local folklore.

Many of the myths and legends from Central and South America are hundreds or even thousands of years in the making, passed down from generation to generation, and, no doubt, embellished with every telling and retelling. Yet despite this, it seems the origin story of the Silence Zone in Mexico is a twentieth century creation.

One early story linked to the Zone appears to have occurred sometime in the 1930s. A local pilot by the name of Francisco Sarabia was said to have been flying over the area when his radio suddenly stopped working and his instruments spun wildly out of control. Despite the stories, actual evidence documenting this strange event seems to be thin on the ground. Left to itself, it’s likely this solitary story would have been quickly forgotten. But it wasn’t alone. Soon more stories of the supposed Zone of Silence began to appear.

In 1966, one of the most famous Zone of Silence stories emerged. It’s said that Mexican oil company Pemex sent a delegation to the area to conduct a feasibility study. The group’s leader, Augusto Harry de la Peña, found he was continually encountering issues with radio reception, and in his frustration designated the area the ‘Zone of Silence’. This throwaway moniker stirred up some local interest but remained relatively low key.

Yet, in 1970, all that was to change and soon the area made not just national but international headlines.

On July 11, a US military Athena Re-Entry Test Vehicle (RTV) rocket was launched from the Green River Launch Complex in Utah to gather data on atmospheric re-entry. It was supposed to land near the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico but for reasons unknown, it veered wildly off course and came down in what is now the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve, almost 650 kilometres south of where it was supposed to land. Investigations as to why the rocket veered so far from its intended target concluded that a combination of factors – including a failure in the guidance system – caused the off-course trajectory.

The Americans dispatched a team of specialists, equipment, and resources to recover the debris and clean up the site. Soon rumours began to circulate that the rocket’s malfunction was caused by unusual magnetic fields or other anomalies inherent to the region. These stories added a new layer to the existing legends about the Area of Silence in Mexico, which already included tales of disrupted radio signals and strange lights in the sky.

It was further reported that a group of local men – zoneros – hired to guard the crash site while the Americans went about their business started to talk of bizarre mutated animals and plants, strange lights in the sky, and magnetic rocks, perhaps to attract tourists, perhaps because they truly believed…

So what’s really going on in the Zone of Silence. Well, there’s a school of thought that says it’s nothing to do with magnetic rocks, instead it’s a far more off-world explanation. Visitors to the area have reportedly seen unexplained lights dancing on the horizon, and even claimed encounters with tall, blonde-haired strangers who are said to offer assistance, or ask for water, before vanishing without a trace and leaving no footprints. These enigmatic figures are often described as ‘benevolent aliens’. So has ET been visiting the area to help out the locals, or is something else going on?

The Zone of Silence in Mexico has been the subject of numerous theories attempting to explain the unusual phenomena reported in the area. These theories range from scientific explanations to more speculative ideas.

Meteorites

An unusually high number of meteorites with magnetic metals such as iron and nickel have been found in the Zone. Some speculate these contribute to disturbances affecting equipment, but no proven link exists between crashed meteorites and radio interference.

Atmospheric Conditions

Unique atmospheric conditions might affect radio waves in the Zone, like fluctuations in the ionosphere or solar activity. While plausible, there’s almost no evidence to fully support this theory.

Extraterrestrial & Paranormal Activity

Sporadic reports of UFOs, unexplained lights, and encounters with tall, blonde strangers fuel the idea that the Silence Zone is fraught with out-of-this-world activity, and despite the fact they’re entertaining, these accounts remain the domain of true believers.

The Athena Rocket

The Athena crash is often cited as both cause and effect. Some suggest the rocket malfunctioned due to the Zone’s properties, or that the crash altered the environment. Yet official reports put the whole thing down to nothing more than unremarkable technical issues.

Other Theories

There’s a whole host of other theories that attempt to explain the supposed bizarre happenings in the Zone of Silence. Mexico is renowned for some amazing myths and legends, but these seem to be clutching at straws, including the fact that some believe the Zone sits on ley lines, hypothetical energy alignments affecting electronics and organisms.

More Tourist Trap than Signals Trap

Perhaps more plausible is the idea that unexplained phenomena attract tourists and benefit the local economy. The Loch Ness Monster, although far more well-known with an entire cottage industry supporting it, is a perfect example. So some argue the whole thing is nothing more than an elaborate – yet entertaining – money making scheme.

The allure of the unknown, combined with anecdotal reports and local legends, continues to fuel speculation about the Zone of Silence. Whether the phenomena are due to geological features and atmospheric conditions or something more otherworldly, the Silence Zone in Mexico remains a fascinating subject for both scientific study and imaginative exploration. For now at least, the mystery remains unsolved.