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Marfa Lights
Mysterious glowing orbs dance across the desert at night. First reported by cowboys in 1883. No explanation has ever satisfied everyone. The lights of Marfa continue to mystify observers.
1883 - Present
Marfa, Texas, USA
50000+ witnesses
The Marfa Lights are unexplained glowing orbs that appear in the desert near Marfa, Texas, attracting thousands of curious visitors annually.
The Phenomenon
According to documented accounts:
The lights are:
- Glowing spheres of various colors
- Appearing at night in the desert
- Moving, splitting, and merging
- Impossible to approach
- Visible from the viewing area on Highway 67
History
First reported in 1883:
- Cowboys thought they were Apache campfires
- Attempts to find the source failed
- The lights remained unexplained
- Reports continued for over a century
Descriptions
Witnesses describe:
- White, yellow, orange, red, or blue lights
- Hovering above the ground
- Moving horizontally
- Splitting into multiple lights
- Merging back together
- Appearing and disappearing suddenly
Scientific Explanations
Proposed explanations include:
- Car headlights from Highway 67
- Atmospheric refraction (Fata Morgana)
- Swamp gas (though no swamps exist)
- Bioluminescence
- Piezoelectric effects from quartz
The Viewing Area
Texas built an official viewing area:
- Located on Highway 67
- Open 24 hours
- Free parking
- Information displays
- Best viewing on clear, dark nights