UPSC Prelims 2006 Q146: Geography – Oceanography
Bermuda triangle extends up to which of the following places?
1. Southern Florida
2. Puerto Rico
3. Hawaii Islands
Select the correct answer
using the code given below:
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Extent of the Bermuda Triangle
| Place | Within the Bermuda Triangle? |
|---|---|
| 1. Southern Florida (Miami) | Yes — one corner of the triangle |
| 2. Puerto Rico | Yes — another corner |
| 3. Hawaii Islands | No — Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean |
The Bermuda Triangle in the western North Atlantic is bounded by Miami (southern Florida), Bermuda and Puerto Rico, so only places 1 and 2 fall within it.
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Hawaii Islands lie in the Pacific, far from the triangle.
- (b) CORRECT. The triangle extends up to southern Florida and Puerto Rico.
- (c) Incorrect. Hawaii is not within the triangle, and southern Florida is.
- (d) Incorrect. Hawaii is not within the triangle, and Puerto Rico is.
Key point
The Bermuda Triangle spans Miami (southern Florida), Bermuda and Puerto Rico in the Atlantic, not Hawaii.
Remember
Bermuda Triangle: southern Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, not Hawaii.
Common mistakes
- Placing the triangle in the Pacific near Hawaii.
- Confusing it with the Devil's Sea near Japan.
- Forgetting Puerto Rico as a corner.
Exam tip
Bermuda Triangle corners: Miami, Bermuda, Puerto Rico (North Atlantic).
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Bermuda Triangle
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service — Is the Bermuda Triangle a mysterious area?