Bermuda Triangle mystery 'solved,' scientists say

- Massive waves - and not aliens or other mysterious forces - are to blame for the disappearance of ships in the area known as the Bermuda Triangle, scientists said.

Experts at the University of Southampton said 100 feet "rogue waves" are to blame for the high number of boats that have sunk in the 270,271 square mile area between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico. The claims were first made on the British documentary "The Bermuda Triangle Enigma."

Rogue waves - larges unexpected surges that occur near the surface of the ocean - are naturally occurring phenomena that were first observed in 1997 off the coast of South Africa.

On the documentary, the scientists built a model of the USS Cyclops, which disappeared in 1918, claiming 300 lives. The scientists said the size of the boat, along with its flat base, made it easily overcome by the water and size of a rogue wave.

The disappearance of the Cyclops remains the U.S. Navy's single loss of life not directly involving combat. Theories on its disappearance include an attack by a German submarine or sinking in an unexpected storm.

The rogue wave theory is just the latest to explain the mysterious disappearance of boats in the triangle area. It does not answer questions on the disappearance of airplanes in the area, the first of which was reported in 1945.