Mysteries of the world which fascinate us

Introduction

Events which remain unexplained catch our imagination. Its only human nature to know about the unknown and keep looking for an answer till it is found. There have been numerous such events in the human history and here in this article, I would like to focus on some of them.

Atlantis

Greek philosopher Plato, in about 355 B.C, first mentioned about Atlantis. It was an ideal civilization and no less than a paradise which existed in the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, at the height of its power, Atlantis was struck down when a volcano erupted and the whole civilization sank at the bottom of the ocean. Though many people do not believe the story, there are still many who do.

Eldorado

The lust for gold and mad adventures seeking it has always gripped mankind since ages. The legend of Eldorado stems from the story about a tribal chief who used to cover himself with gold dust in the Americas. The story grew which finally manifested into the "Lost City of Gold". Many expeditions seeking this land of gold were conducted since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors which has resulted in the loss of lives, reputation as well as money. But this source of untold riches has not been found as yet.

Ghosts

The subject of ghosts is something which appeals to everyone though the emotions evoked may vary such as horror, excitement, curiosity etc. Some don't believe at all while many have devoted their life studying the paranormal. There have been many instances of ghost sightings by people but they are rejected on the grounds of lack of conclusive proof, fraud or false stories by mentally disturbed people. Stories of haunted houses, evil possessions, spirit calling, and awakening of the dead are always popular throughout the world. People have even claimed to capture ghosts on camera which only help in sensationalizing the matter. Whether they exist or not is a mystery which is yet to be solved.

UFO

Unidentified flying objects have captivated the human mind since several decades now. They came into limelight after sightings of strange objects in the sky were reported from various parts of the world. Some scientists have categorically dismissed the problem while some have accepted the possibility of their existence resulting in no unanimous decision. The mystery continues to baffle the world.

Bermuda Triangle

An area of the North Atlantic Ocean, known as the Bermuda Triangle, has been a graveyard for many a ships, boats and airplanes which have gone missing without any warning. Many books have been written on it; even research has also been conducted to solve the mystery but in vain. Many explanations including alien abductions, human error and shark infestation have been put forwarded to explain the phenomenon. The matter is made worse due to the unpredictability of the weather. All of these have resulted in fear about the place and people generally prefer to avoid the area.

Loch Ness monster

Loch Ness is a large fresh water lake in the Great Glen, Great Britain. The lake is famous for sighting of a mysterious animal in and around the lake with a large body and long lender neck. The animal is known as the Loch Ness monster or Nessie. Report about the animal dates back to the 15th century but it has caught the world attention due to the various speculative photographs and videotapes of the animal. However, the photographs and video are not clear enough to conclusively prove its existence. Sonar equipment was used at one time to detect its presence but without much success. Even so, Nessie still remains popular as an unsolved mystery.

Crystal skull

A skull is something which is associated with death or danger throughout the world. In the 20th century, the existence of crystal skulls, made of clear or milky quartz, was brought into light which was believed to be of ancient origin. How come an accomplishment of such status was made possible without the help of modern technology in earlier times was a great mystery. Moreover, there have been speculations about its origin itself. Some have claimed them to be modern fakes while some have associated them with the paranormal. Still, many have associated them with prediction about the future while some have reported about their healing properties. The truth still remains to be proved.

Ark of The Covenant

According to The Book of Exodus, the Ark of The Covenant is a chest which contains the Tablets of Stones on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. It was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is believed to have supernatural powers. It is a treasure of utmost importance as its existence would provide evidence that the Old Testament is a reality. No one knows about its current whereabouts but it is the object of ultimate desire of adventurers and archaeologists.

The ship Mary Celeste

4 December 1872 marks the date on which The Mary Celeste, an American merchant ship, was found unmanned and apparently abandoned in the middle of the Strait of Gibraltar. It was commanded by an able captain, Benjamin Spooner Briggs. The ship also had the captain's wife, young daughter and a crew of eight. When the ship was found, all of the ship's important documents were missing except for the captain's log. The crew's belongings were intact. There was a supply of food for 6 months. All of the 1701 barrels of alcohol were intact except one. However, the ship's only life boat was missing, one of its two pumps was disassembled and about three and half feet of water was found in the ship's bottom and there was not a trace of the captain, his family and the crew. So what had happened? Why was there no trace of the crew? There were numerous theories put forwarded to explain the mystery including mutiny, pirates, ghost, sea monster as well as killer waterspout but none could conclusively set things right.

Bigfoot

Bigfoot is a large, ape like creature which has been apparently seen on several occasions in North America. In support of its existence, various evidences have been put forwarded including photographs, video footage, footprints and hair samples. The sightings are mainly by real people from different spheres of life. Several expeditions have also been conducted in search of the mystery animal, but no one has been successful till date in finding it. So, does the Bigfoot exits? Where does it dwell and why does it maintain such secrecy? Questions still remain unanswered.