The Fiery Balls of Naga
Supernatural phenomena always seem to be met by photographers who possess a supernatural ability to botch a simple photograph, and the Naga Fireballs phenomenon of the Mekong river in Thailand is no exception. Images of these glowing, egg-sized orbs are always grainy, indistinct, and from a distance, but one factor does lend these fireballs the credibility that it’s supernatural cousins lack… thousands upon thousands of eyewitnesses every year for over 100 years. In fact, they have been observed by so many that their existence is not really debated, rather it is their cause that prompts lively discussion.
Locals claim that these fireballs are the product of the “Naga,” a large magical serpent who patrols the river. Every year, around the end of October, hundreds of locals and tourists gather to watch the pinkish-red, glowing orbs emerge randomly from the water, and soar into the sky without a sound or smoke trail. The number of fireballs varies from year to year, but according to locals, the fireballs have occurred annually as far back as generational memory can reach.
The attempts at scientific explanations leave much to be desired, such as the theory proposed by Manas Kanoksin, a doctor from Nong Khai. He strongly believes that fermenting sediment on the river’s bottom causes pockets of methane gas to form, and that the Earth’s position in relation to the sun during those days of the year causes them to rise, then spontaneously ignite in the presence of ionized oxygen. But other researchers dismiss this claim, pointing out that the rocky river bottom doesn’t have much sediment, and that the water’s turbulence would break up any such methane bubbles before they reached the water’s surface. A 2002 study using robotic submarines indicated that the methane theory was at least viable, but did not address the question of how the bubbles could reach the surface intact.
There is also the very real possibility that the fireballs are man made, but the architects of such a hoax would have to be clever indeed to avoid detection for these hundreds of years.
Article on the Tourism Authority of Thailand website
Wikipedia entry
|
Forthcoming
|
Forthcoming
|
|
Yes, you would think some tourist would use color film and/or a camcorder. I find this to be a VERY interesting article as I believe there may be bubbles coming from crags in the sea floor or something. Really, if I were a scientist I would get a passenger air balloon and float right over them and bring all my scientific equipment to record and “read” what the bubbles are made from. It may be no scientist wants to put their reputation on the line; but if they do and “discover” the reason behind these balloon/bubbles they could make a real name for themselves.