Weird Phenomenon: The Zone of Silence

In a Chihuahuas desert patch near the Bolson de Mapimi in Mexico, there exists an eerie area called Mapimí Silent Zone (La Zona Del Silencio) or the Zone of Silence. The area gets its name from an odd anomaly that prohibits radio waves from transmitting inside the zone. The Zone of Silence appears to cancel radio and TV signals and has a history of UFO sightings. This zone is the home of several rare, mutant species of animals including the purple cactus and a malformed version of the desert tortoise. Since the mid-nineteenth century, farmers who worked the parched land told of “hot pebbles” that fell to the earth from the sky. Scientists at the Mexican research center have named the region the “Mar de Tetys”, or The Sea of Thetys, because millions of years ago, the area lay at the bottom of an ocean; many fossilized sea creatures were found in the area.

The United States military one day sent a special team to the area to investigate its mysterious properties. The U.S. military team discovered that no television signals, radiowaves, short wave, microwave, nor satellite signals are able to penetrate the area. Inhabitants of  Ceballos, approximately 25 miles away (the town nearest to the zone) were quick to point out television signals could never be received in the town or neighboring ranches.

Meteor Magnet

Scientists are still trying to understand the unique properties of the area. They discovered high levels of magnetite in the Zone they have also noted that there is a lot of meteorite activity in the area. This raised speculation that there may be some unusual magnetic properties associated with the minerals in the chalky soil. The area seems to attract extraterrestrial metallic particles and there are nearly constant falls of small meteors known locally as guijolas.

UFO Sightings

Travelers crossing the zone regularly report seeing strange lights, floating orbs, and burning bushes. Many reported fireballs moving at night, changing colors, hanging motionless and then shooting off into the night sky at great speed. One time, two ranchers returning home from a party witnessed a fluorescent light floating down from the dark sky and then“spit out” humanoid creatures, who glowed with the same eerie light and were walking toward them. (That must have been one hell of a party… /skeptical note)

In this video several explanations are offered.

First, it’s suggested that, since the Zone of Silence is on the same latitude as the Bermuda Triangle and the Egyptian Pyramids, there is a connection between the anomalies that have been occurring there. A scientists, secondly, suggests that “Earth’s magnetic field does vary across the surface by up to a few percent”.

They also suggest that the Sky Gods of the Mayans and other Meso-American cultures are actually extraterrestrials they met in the Zone of Silence. The speakers in the video theorize that the more magnetic areas of were used as “signposts”, to navigate.

Now, personally I think it’s all a tad over the top and far-fetched (as a scientist in the video said: “perhaps scientists are born skeptical”). It is, however, food for thought and it could be great writing material.

So this means another flash fiction challenge! 1000 words max on The Zone of Silence! You have one week. And don’t forget to share your stories, I love to read them!

Meanwhile, check out my latest publication: the Main Character Survey! This comprehensive and easy to work with tool will help you make your character all-round and interesting. And it’s free, too!