Mountain in Alaska
Sean Cate
Sean Cate
September 25, 2024 ·  4 min read

Inside The ‘Alaska Triangle’ Where More Than 20,000 People Have Disappeared Without a Trace

The Alaska Triangle, a vast and mysterious region of untamed wilderness, has been the site of thousands of disappearances since the 1970s. Despite its ominous reputation, few know the full extent of the unexplained vanishings and eerie phenomena that take place in this area. Located between Utqiagvik, Anchorage, and Juneau, the Alaska Triangle rivals the Bermuda Triangle in strange and unexplained events. Below, we delve into the chilling facts behind this mysterious region, where over 20,000 people have disappeared without a trace.

A Triangular Mystery

Thousands of people have gone missing in the 'Alaska Triangle' over the years
Credit: History Channel

Just like its more famous counterpart, the Bermuda Triangle, the Alaska Triangle is another triangular region where unexplained disappearances occur. Stretching between three points—Utqiagvik in the north, Anchorage in the middle, and Juneau in the southeast—the triangle covers a massive area of largely uncharted wilderness. Since the 1970s, more than 20,000 people have gone missing within its borders without leaving behind a single clue.1

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The First Notable Disappearance

It's been dubbed the US state's Bermuda Triangle
Credit: History Channel

One of the most well-known disappearances within the Alaska Triangle happened in 1972 when a small aircraft carrying U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, and two other passengers vanished while traveling from Anchorage to Juneau. Despite an extensive search lasting more than 3,600 hours and covering 325,000 square miles, neither the plane nor the passengers were ever found. This mysterious event sparked widespread attention and conspiracy theories, making the Alaska Triangle infamous for unexplained disappearances.

Vast and Dangerous Wilderness

Researcher Ken Gerhard said he had a 'very strange experience' there
Credit: History Channel

The Alaska Triangle’s geography is a formidable factor in these disappearances. This region is home to some of the most rugged and untamed landscapes in the world, with massive mountain ranges, dense forests, and extreme weather conditions that can change rapidly.2 Survival is challenging in these conditions, with frigid temperatures, dangerous wildlife like bears, and countless natural hazards like crevasses and lakes where victims can easily disappear without a trace.

More Disappearances Than Anywhere Else

Beautiful scenery of Alaska
Credit: Times of India

rAccording to the History Channel, the Alaska Triangle has more unsolved missing person cases than anywhere else in the world. Since the early 1970s, over 20,000 people have vanished without a trace, a figure made even more chilling by the relatively small population in the area. Some disappearances involve people going about their daily lives—walking through tourist areas or even aboard cruise ships—without any explanation for why they disappeared.

Unexplained Phenomena and Theories

Alaskan Mountain Landscape
Credit: Pixabay

There are countless theories to explain the disappearances in the Alaska Triangle. Some researchers, like cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard, believe that some of these cases cannot be explained by ordinary causes such as being mauled by a bear or falling into a crevasse. Instead, Gerhard notes that many of these vanishings occur under mysterious circumstances, leading to speculation about everything from alien abductions to strange magnetic forces that could affect navigational instruments.

Unsolved Disappearances Continue

Silhouette with a blue light behiind
Credit: Unsplash

Even with modern technology, many disappearances in the Alaska Triangle remain unsolved. A chilling example is the case of two people who vanished while Gerhard and his team were conducting research in the area. One individual disappeared from a cruise ship, while another went missing in a crowded tourist area on a mountaintop—both without any logical explanation.

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The Case of Gary Frank Sotherden

human skull lit with red light
Credit: Unsplash

Not all cases in the Alaska Triangle remain unsolved. In the mid-1970s, New York native Gary Frank Sotherden disappeared while hunting in the wilderness. For decades, his family hoped he was still alive, but a breakthrough came when a human skull was found near the Porcupine River in northeastern Alaska. DNA testing confirmed it was Sotherden, with evidence suggesting he may have been the victim of a bear attack.

A Chilling Place Best Left Alone

Person alone in front of a waterfall
Credit: Unsplash

The Alaska Triangle, with its hostile environment, untamed wilderness, and an eerie history of mysterious disappearances, is a place many believe is best avoided. From political figures to everyday tourists, no one is safe from the strange forces that seem to haunt this area. With more disappearances reported every year, the Alaska Triangle continues to baffle scientists, researchers, and conspiracy theorists alike.

Theories of Supernatural Activity

a person with a hand in their smoke-covered face
Credit: Unsplash

Many local legends and supernatural explanations attempt to make sense of the disappearances in the Alaska Triangle. Some suggest that ancient indigenous spirits or creatures from Alaskan folklore play a role in the vanishings. Others point to possible magnetic anomalies that could disrupt electronics and lead people astray in the remote wilderness. While none of these theories are proven, they add to the sense of mystery surrounding this strange and foreboding region.

The Alaska Triangle remains one of the most baffling and eerie regions on Earth, where thousands have disappeared without explanation. With each new case, the mystery deepens, leaving more questions than answers for those who dare to venture into its remote, unforgiving wilderness.

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Sources

  1. The chilling story of the ‘Alaska Triangle’ where more than 20,000 people have vanished.” Lad Bible. Olivia Burke. September 9, 2024.
  2. Alaska Triangle mystery: Why over 20,000+ people have disappeared in this region without trace?.” Times of India. September 11, 2024.