The 'Midwest's Bermuda Triangle' Is A Graveyard Of Unsolved Lake Disappearances
Between North America's east and west coasts, the Great Lakes region is arguably the best vacation destination in the entire interior of the United States. The area surrounding the five Great Lakes has pretty much everything you'd want from a memorable trip, including scenic beaches, gorgeous parks, charming small towns, and even large cities. Lake Michigan may be the best for a sheer variety of vacation options, and is the home to some of the nation's most vibrant cities, including the iconic metropolis of Chicago. At the same time, Lake Michigan's shores also protect amazing natural preserves, such as the serene Indiana Dunes National Park and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
However, despite its many charms, the lake is not without a dark side. Some of Lake Michigan's beaches have deadly reputations due to high levels of drowning-related deaths and accidents. Once-thriving Lake Michigan cities like Gary, Indiana have suffered a socio-economic decline in recent decades, leading to higher rates of poverty, crime, and urban decay. And, depending on whom you talk to, Lake Michigan might possess some otherworldly dangers as well.
According to local legends, Lake Michigan has its own version of the infamous Bermuda Triangle, one that has claimed countless ships (and people), and which may even be a major hub for paranormal activity. Though it doesn't get nearly as much attention as the more famous "triangle" in the Atlantic, the Lake Michigan Triangle may be one of America's most mysterious epicenters of disappearances, disasters, and unexplained phenomena.
According to legends, the Lake Michigan Triangle is a hotspot for shipwrecks—and UFOs
For all its sensationalized media attention, the Bermuda Triangle isn't quite as dangerous for travel as you may think. Still, decades of intrigue make it a top destination for fans of unexplained mysteries and the paranormal. And thanks to the equally intriguing legends of the Lake Michigan Triangle, you don't even have to book a trip to Bermuda to visit an alleged supernatural hotspot!
The Lake Michigan Triangle's exact parameters vary by account. But, in most tellings, the Triangle covers a portion of Lake Michigan between the Wisconsin city of Manitowoc to the west and the Michigan cities of Benton Harbor and Luddington to the east. This area includes well-traffic shores along Michigan's Southern Peninsula and parts of both Illinois and Wisconsin between Chicago and Green Bay.
Like the Bermuda Triangle, the Lake Michigan Triangle claims several infamous shipwrecks and disasters. The first known "victim" of the Lake Michigan Triangle goes back to the 17th century, when French ship, Le Griffon, disappeared in 1679 while transporting furs across Lake Michigan. Then, 200 years later, the Triangle allegedly claimed another victim when the schooner, Thomas Hume, vanished in a squall in 1891. And the Triangle's dangers may not even be limited to ships. In 1950, while flying from New York to Seattle, Flight 2501 disappeared over the lake along with everyone on board. As if shipwrecks and disappearances weren't enough, the Lake Michigan Triangle was also the location of one of the nation's most inexplicable UFO sightings. On March 8, 1994, as many as 300 people across Western Michigan reported seeing strange objects flying over the lake. Add several mysterious disappearances and you have the perfect recipe for an enduring, unexplained mystery.
Despite its reputation, the Lake Michigan Triangle is also a great place to visit (if you dare)
The good news is that most scientists and maritime historians find no evidence of anything supernatural in any of these disappearances. Of course, expert opinions are unlikely to stop spooky stories from taking hold. Whether you're a true believer or someone who just loves a good urban legend, the area around the Lake Michigan Triangle makes for a great trip, in more ways than one!
Assuming you don't get abducted by aliens or sucked into an interdimensional vortex, you can find some of the most underrated parks and beachside destinations in this area of the lake. On the Michigan side, you can hike along one of the most beautiful beaches in both Lake Michigan and the entire Midwest at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Alternatively, you can stop at the Netherlands-inspired lakeside town of Holland for some unique European charms. Here, you can experience beautiful windmills, tulips (and tulip festivals), and the photogenic Big Red Lighthouse at Michigan's picturesque Holland State Park.
On the other side of the lake, Wisconsin's Harrington Beach State Park offers so many fun and relaxing lakeside recreational opportunities you may even forget that you're lounging in one of the most supposedly "haunted" places in America. And for the most part, you likely can relax. Despite the unexplained disappearances, Lake Michigan still has many popular, safe spots for recreational boating. While wrecks and disappearances get heavily publicized, the vast majority of visitors to the Lake Michigan Triangle experience no misfortunes or otherworldly events on either land or water. Still, if you do want to witness a real-life UFO in your lifetime, the Lake Michigan Triangle may be a good entry to your bucket list.