January 14, 2025 • 27 mins
What connects the mysterious disappearance of an experienced sailor, unexplained underwater lights documented by police, and ancient Native American legends? Welcome to Lake Champlain's Triangle - a mysterious zone between New York and Vermont where boats vanish, compasses spin wildly, and something large lurks beneath the surface. Join us as we dive deep into the dark waters of America's most enigmatic lake, featuring exclusive interviews with MIT researchers, local witnesses, and marine scientists who are still trying to explain what's really happening in this seemingly peaceful body of water.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey there fellow mystery seekers, welcome to today's episode of Legends and Lore, David
(00:06):
Culpepper here and boy do I have a story for you today.
It was a lot of fun to dig into but first let me send a thank you out to all of you.
I started this podcast because I wanted to talk about all the things that interest me
and I was hoping would interest some of you out there.
Well, just a few weeks in and let me tell you the response has been amazing.
(00:29):
I really appreciate the messages of encouragement and ideas for stories to include here.
I really do thank you.
I have a lot of things that I want to talk about here and along with your suggestions
well it should be enough to keep me busy for quite a while but seriously thank you for
listening.
So now let's get to this week's story.
(00:53):
When we think of mysterious triangles where things vanish without a trace, our minds usually
drift to the warm waters of the Caribbean.
But there's another triangle, one that's been quietly collecting its own stories of
disappearances and unexplained phenomena for centuries.
Nestled between the green mountains of Vermont and the rugged peaks of New York's Adirondacks
(01:15):
lies Lake Champlain, a 490 square mile expanse of dark deep water that holds more secrets
than fish.
The Lake Champlain Triangle as locals have come to call it stretches from Port Henry
New York to Burlington, Vermont and up to Plattsburgh.
Forming a region where boats vanish on calm days, where lights dance across the water
(01:37):
in impossible patterns, and where something large enough to create six foot wakes has
been spotted moving beneath the surface since before European settlers first mapped these
shores.
What makes this area particularly intriguing isn't just the number of incidents that have
occurred here, it's how similar they are to cases reported in its more famous cousin,
(01:58):
the Bermuda Triangle.
We're talking about sudden equipment failures, inexplicable compass variations, and disappearances
that happen in perfect weather conditions.
But unlike the vast Atlantic Ocean, Lake Champlain is practically in people's backyards.
You can stand on the shore in Burlington and literally see across to the other side, and
(02:20):
yet somehow this relatively small body of water has managed to keep its secrets hidden
in plain sight for generations.
In tonight's episode, we're going to dive deep, both figuratively and through some fascinating
sonar recordings, literally, into the mysteries of the Lake Champlain Triangle.
We'll hear from the people who've witnessed its strange phenomena first hand, examine
(02:45):
the scientific theories that might explain them, and explore the ancient legends that
suggest these waters have been unusual since long before the first European settler ever
laid eyes on them.
Long before European ships ever cut through these waters, the Abonacchi people called Lake
Champlain bitabagic, meaning the waters between.
(03:08):
But they weren't just referring to the physical space between Vermont and New York.
According to their oral traditions, this was a place between worlds, where the veils separating
our reality from the spirit realm grew thin.
The Abonacchi told stories of powerful water spirits dwelling in the depths, beings that
(03:29):
could calm the waters or whip them into a fury depending on their mood.
They spoke of strange lights that would dance across the surface at night, which they believed
were the torches of spirit messengers traveling between worlds.
When Samuel de Champlain first explored these waters in 1609, he couldn't have known that
(03:51):
he would become part of the lake's mysterious legacy.
In his journals, he described encountering what he called a serpent-like creature, some
20 feet in length, with silver-gray scales that reflected the summer sun.
Now Champlain was an experienced explorer and navigator, not the type of man given to
flights of fancy.
(04:13):
He made detailed drawings of local flora and fauna that scientists still reference today
for their accuracy.
So what did he see that July morning that was so remarkable he felt compelled to document
it?
The late 1700s brought increased European settlement and, with it, the first recorded
disappearances.
(04:33):
The lake became a crucial trading route, its waters busy with merchant vessels and fishing
boats.
In 1780, a British naval vessel, the HMS Halifax, vanished during a routine patrol.
The weather was clear, the crew experienced.
Search parties found no wreckage, no bodies, nothing to suggest what might have happened.
This would become a haunting pattern over the next two centuries, boats disappearing
(04:58):
in good weather, leaving no trace behind.
The 1800s brought industrialization to the lake's shores, and with it came more regular
documentation of unusual occurrences.
In 1819, Port Henry's harbour master kept a detailed log describing a week when compass
readings were so erratic that several ships had to delay their departures.
(05:24):
That same year, three separate fishing boats reported being pulled by unseen currents toward
the center of the lake, fighting their way back to shore despite calm conditions.
These incidents coincided with reports of strange lights seen moving beneath the water
surface.
Perhaps most intriguing are the accounts from the Underground Railroad era.
(05:47):
Freedom seekers crossing the lake reported mysterious fogs that would suddenly appear,
thick enough to hide boats from patrol vessels but somehow allowing clear visibility of the
stars above for navigation.
Some credited these unusual weather phenomena with helping countless people escape to freedom,
whether divine intervention or natural occurrence, these stories added another layer to the lake's
(06:09):
mounting mysteries.
By the Civil War era, the lake had earned a reputation among sailors as a place where
the normal rules of navigation didn't always apply.
Ships would report losing all electrical power only to have it inexplicably returned once
they left certain areas.
(06:29):
Compasses would spin wildly in specific locations, particularly within the triangular zone we
now identify as the heart of the mystery.
Local newspapers of the time began collecting these accounts, though many sailors were reluctant
to go on record for fear of being labeled superstitious or incompetent.
If you were to pull out a map right now and draw lines between Port Henry, New York, Burlington,
(06:54):
Vermont, and Plattsburgh, New York, you'd outline a roughly triangular section of Lake Champlain
that encompasses some of its deepest and most mysterious waters.
But what makes this particular area so special?
Well folks, that's where things get interesting.
You see, this triangle sits right above what geologists call the Great Appalachian Suture,
(07:15):
which really an ancient fault line where two continental plates smashed together hundreds
of millions of years ago.
This collision created a network of deep underwater canyons and caves that were still mapping
today.
In fact, just last year a research team from the University of Vermont discovered a previously
unknown cave system about 300 feet down that seems to connect to a larger network of underwater
(07:39):
tunnels.
They had to abort their ROV exploration when their equipment started giving them conflicting
depth readings, something that happens with surprising frequency in this area.
The lake floor in the Triangle Zone also features some pretty unusual geology.
We're talking about massive underwater cliffs that drop off suddenly from 50 feet to over
(08:00):
400 feet deep.
Local fishermen talk about the washing machine, a spot near the center of the triangle where
currents from different depths collide and create vertical whirlpools that seem to defy
the normal rules of water movement.
Some scientists theorize that these currents, combined with the unique mineral composition
of the underlying rock formations, might create electromagnetic anomalies that could explain
(08:23):
some of the compass and equipment malfunctions reported in the area.
But here's what really gets me.
The boundaries of the Triangle almost perfectly match what local indigenous peoples marked
on their maps as the forbidden fishing grounds centuries before anyone had the technology
to detect these underwater features.
(08:44):
How did they know?
According to Abonanaki oral histories, their ancestors learned to avoid these waters after
several fishing canoes vanished without a trace.
They described the area as a place where the water draws breath, an eerily accurate description
of the vertical current movements we now know exist there.
The Triangle also encompasses what's known as the Burlington Plateau, a relatively flat
(09:10):
underwater shelf that drops off dramatically on all sides.
This sonar mapping has revealed strange circular depressions on this plateau that scientists
can't fully explain.
They're too symmetrical to be natural, but if they're artificial, who made them?
And more importantly, why?
(09:30):
On July 15, 1978, Barry Goldstein was doing what he'd done hundreds of times before, taking
his 28 foot sailboat, the Aurora, out for a weekend cruise on Lake Champlain.
Barry wasn't some weekend warrior who'd just bought his first boat.
He'd been sailing these waters for over 20 years, served in the Navy, and was known among
(09:53):
the Burlington sailing community as one of the most meticulous skippers around.
The kind of guy who checked the weather three times before leaving dock and could tie a
bowline knot in his sleep.
Last Saturday morning was about as perfect as they come, clear skies, light winds from
the Northwest, and visibility for miles.
Barry radioed the marina at 9.15 a.m., joking with the operator about how he might finally
(10:19):
catch that monster pike he'd been chasing all summer.
His last known position put him just off the Burlington Plateau near the center of what
we now call the Triangle.
At 10.47 a.m. Barry made his final radio contact, the transcript reads like something
out of a science fiction novel.
Here's the transcript of the actual recording.
(10:40):
Burlington marina, this is Aurora.
You see in this weird fog bank out here, it's, hang on, my compass is, that can't be right,
all my instruments are Aurora, please repeat, you're breaking up.
The water's doing something strange, it's like it's, Mary, mother of God, what is that
under the, and that was it.
(11:02):
No distress signal, no Mayday call, just static.
When the Coast Guard reached his last known location 40 minutes later there was no sign
of the Aurora, no debris, and no fog bank.
But they did find something odd, their own instruments were going haywire.
The rescue helicopter reported extreme compass variations and their underwater sonar was
(11:24):
picking up what they described as phantom readings from depths that didn't match their
charts.
Here's where it gets even stranger.
Three days into the search, a diving team reported hearing what they described as mechanical
humming coming from deep beneath the surface.
When they tried to descend to investigate all three divers experienced simultaneous
(11:45):
equipment failures with their depth gauges.
The official report notes that their compasses were pointing in different directions, despite
the divers being within feet of each other.
The case remains unsolved, the Aurora was never found despite being in a relatively
contained search area of a lake.
Barry Goldstein joined a long list of experienced sailors who seemed to vanish into thin air
(12:09):
on Lake Champlain, but his disappearance marked a turning point.
It was the first time we had radio transcripts and documented equipment failures associated
with vanishing.
The events of September 2, 1984 were witnessed by over 70 people and documented by three
(12:29):
separate police departments.
It began at approximately 11.45 pm when Burlington police started receiving calls about strange
lights over the lake.
But these weren't your typical UFO reports of distant lights in the sky.
These lights were coming from beneath the water.
Katie Morrison, a college student at the time, captured 8 minutes of footage on her Super 8
(12:53):
camera.
While the film quality is grainy by today's standards, it clearly shows multiple bright
blue-white lights moving in geometric patterns beneath the lake's surface.
Here's Katie's description from her interview with the local news.
They were moving too fast to be boats, too controlled to be reflections.
(13:14):
They seemed to be dancing, almost, like they were making specific patterns.
Then they all converged at one point and shot straight up out of the water into the sky.
The weird thing was, there was no splash, no disturbance of the water at all.
The Burlington Police Department dispatched a helicopter to investigate.
(13:36):
Officer James Martinez was on board and filed this report.
Upon approaching the coordinates, our instruments began behaving erratically.
The altimeter would jump from 500 to 3,000 feet despite maintaining a steady altitude.
At 2357, we observed what appeared to be five distinct lights moving in formation approximately
(13:56):
50 feet below the water surface.
They were visible to the naked eye and on our infrared cameras.
At 003, the lights emerged from the water and ascended at a rate that our aircraft could
not match.
No sonic boom was detected despite the object's apparent supersonic speed.
What makes this incident particularly compelling is the radar data.
(14:21):
Burlington International Airport's radar system tracked objects moving at over 7,000 miles
per hour in a zigzag pattern over the lake before they vanished off the scope.
The FAA conducted a thorough investigation ruling out military exercises, weather phenomena,
and technical malfunctions.
(14:41):
While Champi, as locals affectionately call it, has become something of a tourist attraction,
the historical record of large unknown creatures in Lake Champlain is both extensive and surprisingly
credible.
Remember that underwater cave system I mentioned earlier?
In 2012, a research submersible mapping those caves captured something unusual on its cameras.
(15:03):
Now, Dr. Elena Rodriguez, the lead researcher, described it this way, we were about 200 feet
down documenting the cave entrance when our sonar picked up something massive moving just
outside our visual range.
Whatever it was, it displaced enough water to create currents that we could feel in our
submersible.
(15:25):
Then it moved into view of our cameras.
The body length was estimated at 35 or 40 feet based on our laser measurements.
It appeared serpentine but with clear appendages unlike anything we'd expect to find in a freshwater
lake.
The footage, while somewhat murky, shows a large creature with what appears to be a long
(15:45):
neck, multiple pairs of fins, and a segmented body.
Most interesting was its apparent ability to bioluminesce.
The creature seemed to emit a faint bluish glow, similar to what many deep sea creatures
use to navigate in dark waters.
This sighting gained particular significance when researchers discovered ancient petroglyphs
(16:07):
along the lake shore, depicting a remarkably similar creature.
Carbon dating placed these rock carvings at over 3,000 years old.
The Abonaki people have stories of creatures they called ogrophogosk, the great water serpents
that could make themselves glow and were known to take both boats and swimmers.
(16:27):
Carbon sonar surveys have detected large biological masses moving at depths of 400 plus feet,
often in areas near the underwater cave systems.
These readings suggest creatures significantly larger than any known species of freshwater
fish.
What's particularly interesting is that these sonar contacts often coincide with reports
(16:49):
of electronic equipment malfunctions and compass anomalies, suggesting a possible connection
between the biological and electromagnetic phenomenon observed in the triangle.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, there's got to be a rational explanation for
all of this, right?
Well, that's exactly what Dr. Margaret Chan thought when she began her three year study
(17:12):
of Lake Champlain's anomalies in 2019.
What she and her team from MIT discovered though only deepened the mystery.
Let's start with the geology, because this is where things get really interesting.
The lake sits on what geologists call a tectonic suture zone, essentially a massive scar in
the Earth's crust where two ancient continents slammed together about 450 million years ago.
(17:38):
Dr. Chan's team discovered that this collision left behind something unusual, layers of magnetite
rich deposits interwoven with veins of quartz, crystal, creating what she describes as,
naturally occurring geometric arrays.
Here's the fascinating part.
These arrays are arranged in patterns remarkably similar to what we use in modern electromagnetic
(18:02):
technology.
Dr. Chan explains, what we're seeing is essentially a natural antenna array buried beneath the
lake.
These formations appear capable of both amplifying and distorting electromagnetic fields in ways
we're still trying to understand.
In our study, we recorded electromagnetic fluctuations up to 300 times stronger than
(18:25):
what would be expected in a typical freshwater lake.
But that's just the beginning.
The team also documented something they called gravitational anomalies, localized areas
where objects appeared to weigh slightly more or less than they should.
These variations were small, just 0.1% to 0.3% difference from normal, but they were
(18:48):
consistent and measurable.
Even more intriguing, these anomalies appeared to shift location based on lunar cycles and
seismic activity.
The water itself presents another scientific puzzle.
Analysis of water samples from the triangle area revealed unusual properties.
Dr. James Thompson from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explains, we found significant
(19:12):
variations in the water's density and electrical conductivity.
But particularly at depths between 150 and 300 feet.
These variations create distinct layers of water that don't mix normally.
This layering effect can bend light in strange ways and could potentially create optical
illusions what some might interpret as underwater lights or moving shapes.
(19:36):
The team also documented what they called thermoclines of unknown origin, patches of
water that were significantly warmer or colder than their surroundings.
With no apparent heat source or sink.
These temperature variations often coincided with the electromagnetic anomalies, suggesting
some kind of interaction we don't yet understand.
(19:57):
Perhaps most intriguing are the acoustic phenomena.
The research vessel Nautilus recorded something extraordinary during a 2021 survey.
Infrasound frequencies emanating from the deeper parts of the lake.
These sound waves, too low for human ears to detect, matched patterns previously recorded
in other locations known for unusual phenomena, including parts of the Bermuda Triangle.
(20:23):
Dr. Chen's team also found evidence of what they termed standing waves in the electromagnetic
field around the lake.
These persistent patterns of energy shouldn't be stable in a natural environment, yet they
recorded the same configurations repeatedly over their three year study.
Even more bizarrely, these patterns seemed to intensify during the same lunar phases
(20:45):
when historical disappearances had occurred.
The cave systems add another layer of scientific intrigue.
Sonar mapping revealed that many of the underwater caverns contain large pockets of trapped gases,
primarily hydrogen and methane.
When these gases release suddenly, they can create a phenomenon known as a density cascade.
(21:05):
Essentially, a column of water with different physical properties than its surroundings.
This could, in theory, explain some of the reported equipment malfunctions and navigational
issues.
However, as Dr. Chen notes in her concluding remarks, what makes the Lake Champlain Triangle
particularly fascinating from a scientific standpoint is not any single anomaly.
(21:28):
It's the way these various phenomena appear to interact with each other.
The fire, the electromagnetic disturbances, influence water density, which affects gas
release from the caves, which in turn impacts the electromagnetic field.
It's a complex feedback loop that we've never seen before in any other body of water.
We can measure these effects, but we still can't fully explain their cause or predict
(21:53):
their behavior.
When asked about the disappearances and sightings, Dr. Chen remains cautiously analytical.
This demands that we look for natural explanations, and we've found several mechanisms that could
contribute to the reported phenomena.
But I have to admit, there are aspects of this Lake's behavior that don't fit neatly
(22:13):
into our current understanding of physics.
We're either dealing with natural processes we don't yet comprehend, or, well, I'll leave
the speculation to others.
You might think that having your local lake labeled as a mysterious triangle where boats
disappear would be bad for business.
(22:34):
But the folks around Lake Champlain have learned to embrace their unusual neighbor, turning
these unexplained phenomena into a thriving tourist industry.
Take Pete's Marina in Burlington.
They used to be just another boat rental place until they started offering mystery triangle
tours.
They run three boats a day during peak season, all equipped with specialized electromagnetic
(22:56):
sensors that visitors can monitor themselves.
Sarah McKenzie, owner of the Champlain Mystery Museum in Port Henry, tells me they've seen
visitor numbers triple since Dr. Chen's research was published.
People come from all over the world, she says.
Scientists, paranormal investigators, curiosity seekers.
(23:18):
We even had a documentary crew from Japan last summer.
But what's really interesting is how the locals have changed their attitude over the
years.
It used to be that nobody wanted to talk about their strange experiences on the lake.
Now it's become part of our identity.
The annual Lake Champlain Triangle Festival started in 2020 now draws over 20,000 visitors
(23:40):
to Burlington each summer.
Local artists create triangle-themed artwork, restaurants serve specialty dishes like the
Monster Sub and Triangle Fries, and the Burlington Harbor hosts what they call the Nightlight
Float, where hundreds of boats gather in the supposedly most active areas of the triangle,
hoping to witness something unusual.
(24:02):
But it's not all tourist traps and t-shirt shops.
The mysteries have attracted serious scientific attention, too.
The University of Vermont established the Center for Anomalous Lake Phenomena in 2021, bringing
in researchers from around the world.
The Center provides year-round employment for dozens of local residents who assist with
(24:23):
monitoring equipment and data collection.
They've also started an educational outreach program that has local high school students
helping to monitor wildlife and record electromagnetic readings.
Local fishing guide Tom Blackburn, who's been working these waters for over 40 years,
offers an interesting perspective.
(24:44):
Sure, the tourism helps the economy, but that's not why most of us care about the triangle.
These mysteries, they're part of our heritage now.
My grandfather had stories about the lake, my father too, and now I've got my own.
It's like living next door to a celebrity who never quite reveals their secrets.
Makes life more interesting, you know?
Even the skeptics have found their niche.
(25:06):
The Triangle Truth Tours run by retired physics teacher Linda Martinez take a scientific approach
to explaining the phenomena.
We show people the underwater caves, demonstrate how temperature inversions can create optical
illusions, explain the geological foundations of the electromagnetic anomalies, she says.
(25:28):
But you know what's funny, even with all the scientific explanations, about half our
customers walk away more convinced than ever that something truly mysterious is going on
here.
You know when I first started researching the Lake Champlain Triangle, I expected to find
a few fishing stories blown out of proportion, maybe some misidentified natural phenomena.
(25:53):
Instead, I found myself diving into one of the most well-documented mystery zones in
North America.
What makes this place truly special isn't just the disappearances, the lights, or even
the possible prehistoric creature lurking in its depths.
It's the way these mysteries have brought people together.
From the Abinaki people who first recognized these waters as extraordinary to modern scientists
(26:18):
still puzzling over its anomalies, to local residents who've made peace with their unusual
neighbor, the Lake Champlain Triangle reminds us that some of the world's most fascinating
mysteries aren't hidden away in remote corners of the earth.
Sometimes they're right in our backyards, quietly waiting for someone to notice them.
I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Margaret Chen and her research team for sharing their
(26:44):
findings with us, to the local residents who trusted us with their stories, and to the
Burlington Historical Society for providing access to their archives.
And of course a huge thank you to all of you mystery seekers out there for joining me on
another journey into the unknown.
Next episode, we will be exploring the strange case of the Roanoke Colony Disappearance,
(27:07):
but with some new evidence that's never been discussed publicly before.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Until then, keep your eyes open, your mind sharp, and remember, sometimes the best mysteries
are hiding in plain sight.
This is David Culpepper, signing off from Legends & Lore.
Stay curious, my friends.
Hey there fellow mystery seekers, welcome to today's episode of Legends and Lore, David
(00:06):
Culpepper here and boy do I have a story for you today.
It was a lot of fun to dig into but first let me send a thank you out to all of you.
I started this podcast because I wanted to talk about all the things that interest me
and I was hoping would interest some of you out there.
Well, just a few weeks in and let me tell you the response has been amazing.
(00:29):
I really appreciate the messages of encouragement and ideas for stories to include here.
I really do thank you.
I have a lot of things that I want to talk about here and along with your suggestions
well it should be enough to keep me busy for quite a while but seriously thank you for
listening.
So now let's get to this week's story.
(00:53):
When we think of mysterious triangles where things vanish without a trace, our minds usually
drift to the warm waters of the Caribbean.
But there's another triangle, one that's been quietly collecting its own stories of
disappearances and unexplained phenomena for centuries.
Nestled between the green mountains of Vermont and the rugged peaks of New York's Adirondacks
(01:15):
lies Lake Champlain, a 490 square mile expanse of dark deep water that holds more secrets
than fish.
The Lake Champlain Triangle as locals have come to call it stretches from Port Henry
New York to Burlington, Vermont and up to Plattsburgh.
Forming a region where boats vanish on calm days, where lights dance across the water
(01:37):
in impossible patterns, and where something large enough to create six foot wakes has
been spotted moving beneath the surface since before European settlers first mapped these
shores.
What makes this area particularly intriguing isn't just the number of incidents that have
occurred here, it's how similar they are to cases reported in its more famous cousin,
(01:58):
the Bermuda Triangle.
We're talking about sudden equipment failures, inexplicable compass variations, and disappearances
that happen in perfect weather conditions.
But unlike the vast Atlantic Ocean, Lake Champlain is practically in people's backyards.
You can stand on the shore in Burlington and literally see across to the other side, and
(02:20):
yet somehow this relatively small body of water has managed to keep its secrets hidden
in plain sight for generations.
In tonight's episode, we're going to dive deep, both figuratively and through some fascinating
sonar recordings, literally, into the mysteries of the Lake Champlain Triangle.
We'll hear from the people who've witnessed its strange phenomena first hand, examine
(02:45):
the scientific theories that might explain them, and explore the ancient legends that
suggest these waters have been unusual since long before the first European settler ever
laid eyes on them.
Long before European ships ever cut through these waters, the Abonacchi people called Lake
Champlain bitabagic, meaning the waters between.
(03:08):
But they weren't just referring to the physical space between Vermont and New York.
According to their oral traditions, this was a place between worlds, where the veils separating
our reality from the spirit realm grew thin.
The Abonacchi told stories of powerful water spirits dwelling in the depths, beings that
(03:29):
could calm the waters or whip them into a fury depending on their mood.
They spoke of strange lights that would dance across the surface at night, which they believed
were the torches of spirit messengers traveling between worlds.
When Samuel de Champlain first explored these waters in 1609, he couldn't have known that
(03:51):
he would become part of the lake's mysterious legacy.
In his journals, he described encountering what he called a serpent-like creature, some
20 feet in length, with silver-gray scales that reflected the summer sun.
Now Champlain was an experienced explorer and navigator, not the type of man given to
flights of fancy.
(04:13):
He made detailed drawings of local flora and fauna that scientists still reference today
for their accuracy.
So what did he see that July morning that was so remarkable he felt compelled to document
it?
The late 1700s brought increased European settlement and, with it, the first recorded
disappearances.
(04:33):
The lake became a crucial trading route, its waters busy with merchant vessels and fishing
boats.
In 1780, a British naval vessel, the HMS Halifax, vanished during a routine patrol.
The weather was clear, the crew experienced.
Search parties found no wreckage, no bodies, nothing to suggest what might have happened.
This would become a haunting pattern over the next two centuries, boats disappearing
(04:58):
in good weather, leaving no trace behind.
The 1800s brought industrialization to the lake's shores, and with it came more regular
documentation of unusual occurrences.
In 1819, Port Henry's harbour master kept a detailed log describing a week when compass
readings were so erratic that several ships had to delay their departures.
(05:24):
That same year, three separate fishing boats reported being pulled by unseen currents toward
the center of the lake, fighting their way back to shore despite calm conditions.
These incidents coincided with reports of strange lights seen moving beneath the water
surface.
Perhaps most intriguing are the accounts from the Underground Railroad era.
(05:47):
Freedom seekers crossing the lake reported mysterious fogs that would suddenly appear,
thick enough to hide boats from patrol vessels but somehow allowing clear visibility of the
stars above for navigation.
Some credited these unusual weather phenomena with helping countless people escape to freedom,
whether divine intervention or natural occurrence, these stories added another layer to the lake's
(06:09):
mounting mysteries.
By the Civil War era, the lake had earned a reputation among sailors as a place where
the normal rules of navigation didn't always apply.
Ships would report losing all electrical power only to have it inexplicably returned once
they left certain areas.
(06:29):
Compasses would spin wildly in specific locations, particularly within the triangular zone we
now identify as the heart of the mystery.
Local newspapers of the time began collecting these accounts, though many sailors were reluctant
to go on record for fear of being labeled superstitious or incompetent.
If you were to pull out a map right now and draw lines between Port Henry, New York, Burlington,
(06:54):
Vermont, and Plattsburgh, New York, you'd outline a roughly triangular section of Lake Champlain
that encompasses some of its deepest and most mysterious waters.
But what makes this particular area so special?
Well folks, that's where things get interesting.
You see, this triangle sits right above what geologists call the Great Appalachian Suture,
(07:15):
which really an ancient fault line where two continental plates smashed together hundreds
of millions of years ago.
This collision created a network of deep underwater canyons and caves that were still mapping
today.
In fact, just last year a research team from the University of Vermont discovered a previously
unknown cave system about 300 feet down that seems to connect to a larger network of underwater
(07:39):
tunnels.
They had to abort their ROV exploration when their equipment started giving them conflicting
depth readings, something that happens with surprising frequency in this area.
The lake floor in the Triangle Zone also features some pretty unusual geology.
We're talking about massive underwater cliffs that drop off suddenly from 50 feet to over
(08:00):
400 feet deep.
Local fishermen talk about the washing machine, a spot near the center of the triangle where
currents from different depths collide and create vertical whirlpools that seem to defy
the normal rules of water movement.
Some scientists theorize that these currents, combined with the unique mineral composition
of the underlying rock formations, might create electromagnetic anomalies that could explain
(08:23):
some of the compass and equipment malfunctions reported in the area.
But here's what really gets me.
The boundaries of the Triangle almost perfectly match what local indigenous peoples marked
on their maps as the forbidden fishing grounds centuries before anyone had the technology
to detect these underwater features.
(08:44):
How did they know?
According to Abonanaki oral histories, their ancestors learned to avoid these waters after
several fishing canoes vanished without a trace.
They described the area as a place where the water draws breath, an eerily accurate description
of the vertical current movements we now know exist there.
The Triangle also encompasses what's known as the Burlington Plateau, a relatively flat
(09:10):
underwater shelf that drops off dramatically on all sides.
This sonar mapping has revealed strange circular depressions on this plateau that scientists
can't fully explain.
They're too symmetrical to be natural, but if they're artificial, who made them?
And more importantly, why?
(09:30):
On July 15, 1978, Barry Goldstein was doing what he'd done hundreds of times before, taking
his 28 foot sailboat, the Aurora, out for a weekend cruise on Lake Champlain.
Barry wasn't some weekend warrior who'd just bought his first boat.
He'd been sailing these waters for over 20 years, served in the Navy, and was known among
(09:53):
the Burlington sailing community as one of the most meticulous skippers around.
The kind of guy who checked the weather three times before leaving dock and could tie a
bowline knot in his sleep.
Last Saturday morning was about as perfect as they come, clear skies, light winds from
the Northwest, and visibility for miles.
Barry radioed the marina at 9.15 a.m., joking with the operator about how he might finally
(10:19):
catch that monster pike he'd been chasing all summer.
His last known position put him just off the Burlington Plateau near the center of what
we now call the Triangle.
At 10.47 a.m. Barry made his final radio contact, the transcript reads like something
out of a science fiction novel.
Here's the transcript of the actual recording.
(10:40):
Burlington marina, this is Aurora.
You see in this weird fog bank out here, it's, hang on, my compass is, that can't be right,
all my instruments are Aurora, please repeat, you're breaking up.
The water's doing something strange, it's like it's, Mary, mother of God, what is that
under the, and that was it.
(11:02):
No distress signal, no Mayday call, just static.
When the Coast Guard reached his last known location 40 minutes later there was no sign
of the Aurora, no debris, and no fog bank.
But they did find something odd, their own instruments were going haywire.
The rescue helicopter reported extreme compass variations and their underwater sonar was
(11:24):
picking up what they described as phantom readings from depths that didn't match their
charts.
Here's where it gets even stranger.
Three days into the search, a diving team reported hearing what they described as mechanical
humming coming from deep beneath the surface.
When they tried to descend to investigate all three divers experienced simultaneous
(11:45):
equipment failures with their depth gauges.
The official report notes that their compasses were pointing in different directions, despite
the divers being within feet of each other.
The case remains unsolved, the Aurora was never found despite being in a relatively
contained search area of a lake.
Barry Goldstein joined a long list of experienced sailors who seemed to vanish into thin air
(12:09):
on Lake Champlain, but his disappearance marked a turning point.
It was the first time we had radio transcripts and documented equipment failures associated
with vanishing.
The events of September 2, 1984 were witnessed by over 70 people and documented by three
(12:29):
separate police departments.
It began at approximately 11.45 pm when Burlington police started receiving calls about strange
lights over the lake.
But these weren't your typical UFO reports of distant lights in the sky.
These lights were coming from beneath the water.
Katie Morrison, a college student at the time, captured 8 minutes of footage on her Super 8
(12:53):
camera.
While the film quality is grainy by today's standards, it clearly shows multiple bright
blue-white lights moving in geometric patterns beneath the lake's surface.
Here's Katie's description from her interview with the local news.
They were moving too fast to be boats, too controlled to be reflections.
(13:14):
They seemed to be dancing, almost, like they were making specific patterns.
Then they all converged at one point and shot straight up out of the water into the sky.
The weird thing was, there was no splash, no disturbance of the water at all.
The Burlington Police Department dispatched a helicopter to investigate.
(13:36):
Officer James Martinez was on board and filed this report.
Upon approaching the coordinates, our instruments began behaving erratically.
The altimeter would jump from 500 to 3,000 feet despite maintaining a steady altitude.
At 2357, we observed what appeared to be five distinct lights moving in formation approximately
(13:56):
50 feet below the water surface.
They were visible to the naked eye and on our infrared cameras.
At 003, the lights emerged from the water and ascended at a rate that our aircraft could
not match.
No sonic boom was detected despite the object's apparent supersonic speed.
What makes this incident particularly compelling is the radar data.
(14:21):
Burlington International Airport's radar system tracked objects moving at over 7,000 miles
per hour in a zigzag pattern over the lake before they vanished off the scope.
The FAA conducted a thorough investigation ruling out military exercises, weather phenomena,
and technical malfunctions.
(14:41):
While Champi, as locals affectionately call it, has become something of a tourist attraction,
the historical record of large unknown creatures in Lake Champlain is both extensive and surprisingly
credible.
Remember that underwater cave system I mentioned earlier?
In 2012, a research submersible mapping those caves captured something unusual on its cameras.
(15:03):
Now, Dr. Elena Rodriguez, the lead researcher, described it this way, we were about 200 feet
down documenting the cave entrance when our sonar picked up something massive moving just
outside our visual range.
Whatever it was, it displaced enough water to create currents that we could feel in our
submersible.
(15:25):
Then it moved into view of our cameras.
The body length was estimated at 35 or 40 feet based on our laser measurements.
It appeared serpentine but with clear appendages unlike anything we'd expect to find in a freshwater
lake.
The footage, while somewhat murky, shows a large creature with what appears to be a long
(15:45):
neck, multiple pairs of fins, and a segmented body.
Most interesting was its apparent ability to bioluminesce.
The creature seemed to emit a faint bluish glow, similar to what many deep sea creatures
use to navigate in dark waters.
This sighting gained particular significance when researchers discovered ancient petroglyphs
(16:07):
along the lake shore, depicting a remarkably similar creature.
Carbon dating placed these rock carvings at over 3,000 years old.
The Abonaki people have stories of creatures they called ogrophogosk, the great water serpents
that could make themselves glow and were known to take both boats and swimmers.
(16:27):
Carbon sonar surveys have detected large biological masses moving at depths of 400 plus feet,
often in areas near the underwater cave systems.
These readings suggest creatures significantly larger than any known species of freshwater
fish.
What's particularly interesting is that these sonar contacts often coincide with reports
(16:49):
of electronic equipment malfunctions and compass anomalies, suggesting a possible connection
between the biological and electromagnetic phenomenon observed in the triangle.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, there's got to be a rational explanation for
all of this, right?
Well, that's exactly what Dr. Margaret Chan thought when she began her three year study
(17:12):
of Lake Champlain's anomalies in 2019.
What she and her team from MIT discovered though only deepened the mystery.
Let's start with the geology, because this is where things get really interesting.
The lake sits on what geologists call a tectonic suture zone, essentially a massive scar in
the Earth's crust where two ancient continents slammed together about 450 million years ago.
(17:38):
Dr. Chan's team discovered that this collision left behind something unusual, layers of magnetite
rich deposits interwoven with veins of quartz, crystal, creating what she describes as,
naturally occurring geometric arrays.
Here's the fascinating part.
These arrays are arranged in patterns remarkably similar to what we use in modern electromagnetic
(18:02):
technology.
Dr. Chan explains, what we're seeing is essentially a natural antenna array buried beneath the
lake.
These formations appear capable of both amplifying and distorting electromagnetic fields in ways
we're still trying to understand.
In our study, we recorded electromagnetic fluctuations up to 300 times stronger than
(18:25):
what would be expected in a typical freshwater lake.
But that's just the beginning.
The team also documented something they called gravitational anomalies, localized areas
where objects appeared to weigh slightly more or less than they should.
These variations were small, just 0.1% to 0.3% difference from normal, but they were
(18:48):
consistent and measurable.
Even more intriguing, these anomalies appeared to shift location based on lunar cycles and
seismic activity.
The water itself presents another scientific puzzle.
Analysis of water samples from the triangle area revealed unusual properties.
Dr. James Thompson from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explains, we found significant
(19:12):
variations in the water's density and electrical conductivity.
But particularly at depths between 150 and 300 feet.
These variations create distinct layers of water that don't mix normally.
This layering effect can bend light in strange ways and could potentially create optical
illusions what some might interpret as underwater lights or moving shapes.
(19:36):
The team also documented what they called thermoclines of unknown origin, patches of
water that were significantly warmer or colder than their surroundings.
With no apparent heat source or sink.
These temperature variations often coincided with the electromagnetic anomalies, suggesting
some kind of interaction we don't yet understand.
(19:57):
Perhaps most intriguing are the acoustic phenomena.
The research vessel Nautilus recorded something extraordinary during a 2021 survey.
Infrasound frequencies emanating from the deeper parts of the lake.
These sound waves, too low for human ears to detect, matched patterns previously recorded
in other locations known for unusual phenomena, including parts of the Bermuda Triangle.
(20:23):
Dr. Chen's team also found evidence of what they termed standing waves in the electromagnetic
field around the lake.
These persistent patterns of energy shouldn't be stable in a natural environment, yet they
recorded the same configurations repeatedly over their three year study.
Even more bizarrely, these patterns seemed to intensify during the same lunar phases
(20:45):
when historical disappearances had occurred.
The cave systems add another layer of scientific intrigue.
Sonar mapping revealed that many of the underwater caverns contain large pockets of trapped gases,
primarily hydrogen and methane.
When these gases release suddenly, they can create a phenomenon known as a density cascade.
(21:05):
Essentially, a column of water with different physical properties than its surroundings.
This could, in theory, explain some of the reported equipment malfunctions and navigational
issues.
However, as Dr. Chen notes in her concluding remarks, what makes the Lake Champlain Triangle
particularly fascinating from a scientific standpoint is not any single anomaly.
(21:28):
It's the way these various phenomena appear to interact with each other.
The fire, the electromagnetic disturbances, influence water density, which affects gas
release from the caves, which in turn impacts the electromagnetic field.
It's a complex feedback loop that we've never seen before in any other body of water.
We can measure these effects, but we still can't fully explain their cause or predict
(21:53):
their behavior.
When asked about the disappearances and sightings, Dr. Chen remains cautiously analytical.
This demands that we look for natural explanations, and we've found several mechanisms that could
contribute to the reported phenomena.
But I have to admit, there are aspects of this Lake's behavior that don't fit neatly
(22:13):
into our current understanding of physics.
We're either dealing with natural processes we don't yet comprehend, or, well, I'll leave
the speculation to others.
You might think that having your local lake labeled as a mysterious triangle where boats
disappear would be bad for business.
(22:34):
But the folks around Lake Champlain have learned to embrace their unusual neighbor, turning
these unexplained phenomena into a thriving tourist industry.
Take Pete's Marina in Burlington.
They used to be just another boat rental place until they started offering mystery triangle
tours.
They run three boats a day during peak season, all equipped with specialized electromagnetic
(22:56):
sensors that visitors can monitor themselves.
Sarah McKenzie, owner of the Champlain Mystery Museum in Port Henry, tells me they've seen
visitor numbers triple since Dr. Chen's research was published.
People come from all over the world, she says.
Scientists, paranormal investigators, curiosity seekers.
(23:18):
We even had a documentary crew from Japan last summer.
But what's really interesting is how the locals have changed their attitude over the
years.
It used to be that nobody wanted to talk about their strange experiences on the lake.
Now it's become part of our identity.
The annual Lake Champlain Triangle Festival started in 2020 now draws over 20,000 visitors
(23:40):
to Burlington each summer.
Local artists create triangle-themed artwork, restaurants serve specialty dishes like the
Monster Sub and Triangle Fries, and the Burlington Harbor hosts what they call the Nightlight
Float, where hundreds of boats gather in the supposedly most active areas of the triangle,
hoping to witness something unusual.
(24:02):
But it's not all tourist traps and t-shirt shops.
The mysteries have attracted serious scientific attention, too.
The University of Vermont established the Center for Anomalous Lake Phenomena in 2021, bringing
in researchers from around the world.
The Center provides year-round employment for dozens of local residents who assist with
(24:23):
monitoring equipment and data collection.
They've also started an educational outreach program that has local high school students
helping to monitor wildlife and record electromagnetic readings.
Local fishing guide Tom Blackburn, who's been working these waters for over 40 years,
offers an interesting perspective.
(24:44):
Sure, the tourism helps the economy, but that's not why most of us care about the triangle.
These mysteries, they're part of our heritage now.
My grandfather had stories about the lake, my father too, and now I've got my own.
It's like living next door to a celebrity who never quite reveals their secrets.
Makes life more interesting, you know?
Even the skeptics have found their niche.
(25:06):
The Triangle Truth Tours run by retired physics teacher Linda Martinez take a scientific approach
to explaining the phenomena.
We show people the underwater caves, demonstrate how temperature inversions can create optical
illusions, explain the geological foundations of the electromagnetic anomalies, she says.
(25:28):
But you know what's funny, even with all the scientific explanations, about half our
customers walk away more convinced than ever that something truly mysterious is going on
here.
You know when I first started researching the Lake Champlain Triangle, I expected to find
a few fishing stories blown out of proportion, maybe some misidentified natural phenomena.
(25:53):
Instead, I found myself diving into one of the most well-documented mystery zones in
North America.
What makes this place truly special isn't just the disappearances, the lights, or even
the possible prehistoric creature lurking in its depths.
It's the way these mysteries have brought people together.
From the Abinaki people who first recognized these waters as extraordinary to modern scientists
(26:18):
still puzzling over its anomalies, to local residents who've made peace with their unusual
neighbor, the Lake Champlain Triangle reminds us that some of the world's most fascinating
mysteries aren't hidden away in remote corners of the earth.
Sometimes they're right in our backyards, quietly waiting for someone to notice them.
I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Margaret Chen and her research team for sharing their
(26:44):
findings with us, to the local residents who trusted us with their stories, and to the
Burlington Historical Society for providing access to their archives.
And of course a huge thank you to all of you mystery seekers out there for joining me on
another journey into the unknown.
Next episode, we will be exploring the strange case of the Roanoke Colony Disappearance,
(27:07):
but with some new evidence that's never been discussed publicly before.
Trust me, you won't want to miss this one.
Until then, keep your eyes open, your mind sharp, and remember, sometimes the best mysteries
are hiding in plain sight.
This is David Culpepper, signing off from Legends & Lore.
Stay curious, my friends.
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