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Marfa Lights
Mysterious lights dance over the West Texas desert. First reported by settlers in 1883. They split, merge, and vanish. Some say car headlights. But reports predate automobiles by decades.
1883 - Present
Marfa, Texas, USA
10000+ witnesses
The Marfa Lights have flickered over Texas for 140 years.
First Sighting
1883:
- Robert Ellison
- Cowhand
- Thought Apache campfires
- Investigated
- Found nothing
The Lights
What people see:
- Glowing orbs
- White, yellow, red
- Split and merge
- Dance and bob
- Appear unpredictably
The Location
West Texas:
- Near Marfa
- Mitchell Flat
- US 67 viewing area
- Desert terrain
- Official viewing platform
Scientific Studies
Investigations:
- University of Texas 2004
- Physics students
- Found car headlights explain most
- But not all
- Mystery remains
The Problem
What studies miss:
- 1883 predates cars
- Some lights behave differently
- Old-timers distinguish them
- Consistent description
- Something else there
Tourism
Modern status:
- Viewing area built
- Festival held
- Mystery celebrated
- Tourist attraction
- Texas folklore