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Alaska Triangle
More than 16,000 people have vanished in this vast Alaskan wilderness. In 1972, a plane with two congressmen disappeared—massive search found nothing. The wilderness swallows people at twice the national rate.
1972 - Present
Alaska, USA
100+ witnesses
The Alaska Triangle has the highest missing persons rate in America.
The Statistics
Disturbing numbers:
- 16,000+ missing since 1988
- Twice national average
- Many never found
- Vast wilderness
- Harsh conditions
The 1972 Incident
October 16, 1972:
- Cessna 310 aircraft
- Hale Boggs (Congressman)
- Nick Begich (Congressman)
- Pilot Don Jonz
- Never found
The Search
Massive effort:
- 39 days
- 40 aircraft
- 3,600 hours searched
- $5.3 million spent
- Nothing recovered
The Area
Geography:
- Juneau to Anchorage
- Barrow northern point
- Vast wilderness
- Extreme weather
- Few inhabitants
Theories
Explanations:
- Wilderness claims lives
- Magnetic anomalies
- Indigenous legends
- Kushtaka shapeshifters
- Vortex theory
Native Legends
Tlingit beliefs:
- Kushtaka spirits
- Otter-men
- Lure travelers
- Trap souls
- Ancient warnings