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The Great Lakes Triangle
Speculates on the causes of the reported, and reportedly unexplained, disappearances of hundreds of ships, boats, and aircraft in the Great Lakes region
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 7, 2014
I first read this when I was about 35 years old.
This is an incredibly fascinating and compelling book.
It is very factual and very well written. There are parts of it that I found truly scary.
The author totally proves his case, in my opinion.
It amazes me that with all the interest in the paranormal and the occult in this country, that more people aren't aware of this book.
I really think that it is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read.
This is an incredibly fascinating and compelling book.
It is very factual and very well written. There are parts of it that I found truly scary.
The author totally proves his case, in my opinion.
It amazes me that with all the interest in the paranormal and the occult in this country, that more people aren't aware of this book.
I really think that it is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read.
September 24, 2026
The research that went into this book was phenomenal. Unfortunately, Wikipedia claims this book is written with "confirmation bias" but I do not "buy" that reasoning. There are just TOO MANY anomalous, unexplained airplane crashes and sinking ships that defy explanation.
Even after the official investigations. The author actually used all the crash investigation reports too.
Even witnesses talk about the ships and planes that were in their sights and just disappeared. In most cases no wreckage has ever been found, nor bodies, even to this day. Some ships have been found but the vast majority have not. And most crashed airplanes, once investigated are reported as being fully functional with no known mechanical reason for it to have crashed. The author is also a pilot and he also notes the strange aspects of the crashed planes that leave no reason WHY they suddenly did what they did. There were at least two survivors from airplane crashes and in both instances the pilots do not remember what happened.
I always get interested in this mystery via the "Edmund Fitzgerald" ship that was lost and that famous song. But when you dive deep (pun intended), you realize there were so many more ships and planes. At least one other sticks in my mind. On the bottom of the ship was a huge gash, and no likely reason for it. Many of the events were investigated by the NTSB and its predecessor CAB.
The index of the book alone, lists so many disappearances and crashes it is stunning. There are observed disappearances, impossible engine failures, effects on radios and gyroscopic instruments, loss of control and visual references, fog and clouds that suddenly appear around the plane or ship, crew insanity, memory loss, and in some cases precognition of an event that has some folks not boarding the ship. Many are complete disappearances. And in one case two ships were lost many miles apart and the bodies were discovered wearing the life preservers of the ship they were not on. The theory is that one ship helped the other sinking ship, and wound up also sinking?? Truly weird-- as the last reported positions of either-- did NOT mention any rescue, much less another ship.
In all instances except maybe one or two, all the hundreds of disappearances were NOT precipitated by ANY distress call from the Captain of the ship or the plane's pilot. Whatever happened to them was not only catastrophic-- but extremely sudden!
All of this occurs within the U.S. and Canada - principally between longitudes 76 degrees west and 92 degrees west and between latitudes 41 degrees north and 49 degrees north. It's a region in which SEVERAL HUNDRED peculiar events are recorded. The concentration of them is greater than ANY statistical dispersion would place in such narrow boundaries. The region is also sparsely populated but does have some densely populated areas scattered about. The main feature-- are the freshwater lakes! Erie, Ontario, Michigan and Lake Superior!
The only explanations besides something otherworldly, is possible the weather or magnetic field distortions. There are various theories. So it would be interesting to learn if more investigations can solve it scientifically, or whether we are left with something truly unknowable and unsolvable.
Even after the official investigations. The author actually used all the crash investigation reports too.
Even witnesses talk about the ships and planes that were in their sights and just disappeared. In most cases no wreckage has ever been found, nor bodies, even to this day. Some ships have been found but the vast majority have not. And most crashed airplanes, once investigated are reported as being fully functional with no known mechanical reason for it to have crashed. The author is also a pilot and he also notes the strange aspects of the crashed planes that leave no reason WHY they suddenly did what they did. There were at least two survivors from airplane crashes and in both instances the pilots do not remember what happened.
I always get interested in this mystery via the "Edmund Fitzgerald" ship that was lost and that famous song. But when you dive deep (pun intended), you realize there were so many more ships and planes. At least one other sticks in my mind. On the bottom of the ship was a huge gash, and no likely reason for it. Many of the events were investigated by the NTSB and its predecessor CAB.
The index of the book alone, lists so many disappearances and crashes it is stunning. There are observed disappearances, impossible engine failures, effects on radios and gyroscopic instruments, loss of control and visual references, fog and clouds that suddenly appear around the plane or ship, crew insanity, memory loss, and in some cases precognition of an event that has some folks not boarding the ship. Many are complete disappearances. And in one case two ships were lost many miles apart and the bodies were discovered wearing the life preservers of the ship they were not on. The theory is that one ship helped the other sinking ship, and wound up also sinking?? Truly weird-- as the last reported positions of either-- did NOT mention any rescue, much less another ship.
In all instances except maybe one or two, all the hundreds of disappearances were NOT precipitated by ANY distress call from the Captain of the ship or the plane's pilot. Whatever happened to them was not only catastrophic-- but extremely sudden!
All of this occurs within the U.S. and Canada - principally between longitudes 76 degrees west and 92 degrees west and between latitudes 41 degrees north and 49 degrees north. It's a region in which SEVERAL HUNDRED peculiar events are recorded. The concentration of them is greater than ANY statistical dispersion would place in such narrow boundaries. The region is also sparsely populated but does have some densely populated areas scattered about. The main feature-- are the freshwater lakes! Erie, Ontario, Michigan and Lake Superior!
The only explanations besides something otherworldly, is possible the weather or magnetic field distortions. There are various theories. So it would be interesting to learn if more investigations can solve it scientifically, or whether we are left with something truly unknowable and unsolvable.
May 20, 2018
There are a great many interesting and puzzling stories of ships and airplanes disappearing, crashing for no apparent reason, or malfunctioning in strange ways. While many of them could be logically explained or told with a spin that doesn't cover the logical side of things, the sheer amount of examples in the book is noteworthy.
At first, I was impressed by the many well-documented sources. Then, as he began correlating information with hints and stories of UFOs, I paid a little closer attention to the sources. The wrecks and disappearances all come from official records (though some he claims are classified and not available to the public), everything related to aliens comes from the National Inquirer.
It's an entertaining read if you like UFO stories (not so much for me), and interesting to note that there have been significant amount of disappearing planes and boats. What could it mean? Probably nothing.
At first, I was impressed by the many well-documented sources. Then, as he began correlating information with hints and stories of UFOs, I paid a little closer attention to the sources. The wrecks and disappearances all come from official records (though some he claims are classified and not available to the public), everything related to aliens comes from the National Inquirer.
It's an entertaining read if you like UFO stories (not so much for me), and interesting to note that there have been significant amount of disappearing planes and boats. What could it mean? Probably nothing.
February 27, 2017
Gourley's understanding of the Great Lakes nature and the freighters that sail on them are so laughably inaccurate it should be on the "humor" shelf, right next to English as She is Spoke. Maybe he's on to something with all the time slips and planes suddenly dropping out of the sky, but his descriptions of the the ships' sinkings--suspiciously lacking in any details about the weather or condition of the ships--are so . . ignorant, they call the validity of the entire book into question.
October 1, 2009
The author only gives what is really a list of planes and ship that have mysteriously sunk or disappeared, what he does not do is give reasons as to these happening. For me this lets the book down, it would be nice to have more detail explaining these occurrences. But on the whole a nice read to start an interest in the Great Lakes Mysteries.
September 22, 2010
it was okay. most of my life i could step outside and face one of three cardinal points and...walk if i wanted...and in a matter of miles be on the shore of the big lake. i imagine one could argue there are triangles the world over considering the life we live. some things are mysteries.
January 7, 2017
A well-researched, but tedious little volume of succinct anecdotes about plane and ship disappearances in the Great Lakes area.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews