In the heart of Mexico’s Chihuahua Desert lies a puzzling place known as the Zone of Silence, located in the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve, which stretches across the Mexican states of Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, where all electronic devices mysteriously fail to work. Just 25 miles away, phones, radios, and GPS function normally, but inside the barren deserts, visitors are totally cut off from their phone signals or the outside world. What is going on? Despite years of research, scientists are still unable to explain why this is happening and why signals totally vanish here.
How Mexico’s Chihuahua Comes Into Existence
The phenomenon firstly drew attention in July 1970, when an American missile, the Athena RTV test rocket, launched from the Green River Launch Complex in Utah towards the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, lost control and crashed into the Chihuahua Desert. After a long time of investigation, the U.S. Air Force recovery team discovered that not only the GPS system but also all other electronic devices failed within this area, even the clock. Television signals, radio waves, and even satellite transmissions couldn’t penetrate the zone.
Scientists suggest that high concentrations of minerals like magnetic magnetite, found in the region’s ancient seabed deposits, could be responsible for these magnetic anomalies.
History of the Zone of Silence
The region was once an ancient seabed, which explains the rich mineral deposits found there. But since that very incident, this zone has now been declared as a “dark zone” because no signals can pass through it. The Mexican government later set up a research laboratory there to study its unusual environment, from vegetation and soil to insect life.
Scientists suggested that the Chihuahua Desert’s high magnetic activity could explain the disruptions, though its exact origin always remains a mystery for everyone. Research further shows that millions of years ago, this region was part of the Sea of Tethys and a famous place where one could find flora and fauna.
Today, the Zone of Silence continues to intrigue scientists and travelers alike and has become a famous spot for tourists in Mexico.
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