Ufologist Scott Corrales reported that in the state of Durango, in Mexico, there is a desert area called "La Zona Del Silencio", the "Zone of Silence" where UFO events take place.
Among the stories from the place, he reports that in November 1978, journalist Luis Ramirez Reyes visited the zone as part of a news team assigned to cover a story on the bizarre site.
Choosing to go ahead of the main team, Ramirez and his photographer drove into the desert, navigating by intuition rather than by hard knowledge of where their final destination was located: the "biosphere", constructed by the Mexican government, a laboratory dedicated to investigating biological life forms found in the area and, allegedly, to conducting psychic research.
At some time Ramirez realized he lacked water or the provisions necessary to survive in the hostile environment if they should become hopelessly lost. Having reached a "Y" intersection in the unpaved desert road, they had chosen the wrong one.
Suddenly, he noticed that there were three "figures" walking up ahead, coming toward them. Hoping that "these locals" might be able to point them toward the biosphere, the journalist told his companion, who was driving, to slow down to talk to them. He was startled when the driver passed them by, as if not having seen them.
Ramirez began wondering if the desert hadn't gotten to him already. The trio were ordinary people, clad in the outfits usually worn by the inhabitants of that part of the country. As they drove along, he experienced the shock of running into them again but in a different part of the desert. Sternly ordering the photographer (who couldn't see anyone at all) to stop the car, Ramirez got his chance to speak to the three locals. He asked them if they had seen another vehicle like theirs in the area. They said that they hadn't, but that if they drove cross country amidst the rocky desert terrain of the "Sea of Thetys" they would reach the biosphere. The three locals claimed to be out looking for some stray animals of theirs, but they had no water bottles or other gear that would indicate that they were able to survive in the menacing terrain.
After completing the cross-country trek, both men were relieved to find the structure of the biosphere rising in the distance. Upon arriving, and meeting up with their team, they discussed their unusual encounter with Harry de la Pena. Pena told them that there were no people in the desert who weren't part of the biosphere team and certainly no flocks for peasants to look for. An aerial survey in later days convinced the investigator of the utter desolation of the region that stretched for hundreds of miles.
|
|
[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that near Ceballos, Durango, Mexico, on November 1978, in the afternoon, in a desolate area known as "La Zona Del Silencio" where various strange phenomena has been reported, a journalist and his driver had become totally lost in the desert while looking for a research laboratory. As they reached an intersection of an unpaved road, the journalist saw three figures suddenly appear out of nowhere; these seemed human enough and resembled local peasants. The driver however drove by the trio apparently not able to see them. As they drove further along, the three figures suddenly appeared again. This time the journalist ordered his driver to stop and he did. After a brief conversation with the trio the witness was given exact directions on how to find the laboratory. Apparently during the encounter the driver was never able to see the three figures.
Albert Rosales indicates that the source is "Scott Corrales, Samizdat Vol. 2 #2."
[Ref. ur1:] "UNSOLVED REALMS" BLOG:
|
Another notable incident, occurred in November 1978, when journalist Luis Ramirez Reyes was visiting the Zone of Silence with a team reporting on the strange site. He and his photographer decided to go ahead of the team and drove into the zone. He then noticed three figures walking toward them. Thinking they were locals and they could point him in the right direction, they slowed down to talk to them. But his photographer didn’t see them and passed them by. Later on, as they kept driving on, Luis was shocked and in disbelief that they ran into the three figures again in a different part of the desert! He met up with his team later on and told them about the incident, and was told the only people out there were members of the biosphere. |
[Ref. sc1:] SCOTT CORRALES:
|
... other cases in the "Zone of Silence" ...] No experience in the Zone of Silence is easily forgotten, and journalist Luis Ramirez Reyes will almost certainly never forget his own. During the month of November of 1978, Ramirez visited the Zone as part of a news team assigned to cover a story on the bizarre site. Choosing to go ahead of the main team, Ramirez and his photographer charged into the desert, navigating by intuition rather than by hard knowledge of where their final destination was located: the "biosphere" constructed by the Mexican government, a laboratory dedicated to investigating the unusual biological life forms found in the area and to conducting psychic research. No closer to their target than when their reckless impulse drove them into the wasteland, Ramirez became painfully aware that he lacked water or the provisions necessary to survive in this hostile environment should they become hopelessly lost. Having reached a "Y" intersection in the unpaved desert road, they had chosen the wrong one. Suddenly, he noticed that there were three figures walking up ahead, coming toward them. Hoping that these locals might be able to point them toward the biosphere, the journalist told his companion, who was doing the driving, to slow down to talk to them. He was startled when the driver passed them by, as if not having seen them. Ramirez began wondering if the desert hadn't gotten to him already. Thetrio were ordinary people, clad in the outfits usually worn by the inhabitants of that part of the country. As they drove along, he experienced the shock of running into them again--in a different part of the desert! Sternly ordering the photographer (who couldn't see anyone at all) to stop the car , Ram°rez got his chance to speak to the three locals. He asked them if they had seen another vehicle like theirs in the area. They said that they hadn't, but that if they drove cross country amid the rocky desert terrain of the "Sea of Thetys" they would reach the biosphere. The three locals claimed to be out looking for some stray animals of theirs, but they had no water bottles or other gear that would indicate that they were able to survive in the menacing terrain. After completing the cross-country trek, both men were relieved to find the structure of the biosphere rising in the distance. Upon arriving, and meeting up with their team, they discussed their unusual encounter in the desert with Harry de la Pena. In a sobering tone, Pena told them that there were no people in the desert who weren't part of the biosphere team and certainly no flocks for peasants to look for. An aerial survey in later days convinced the investigator of the utter desolation of the region that stretched for hundreds of miles. But if they weren't people, what were they? ... other cases in the "Zone of Silence" ...] |
Wikipedia tells about the "Zona del Silencio": "the Zone of Silence, in Spanish Zona del Silencio, is a desert zone located at the north of Mexico in Bolsón de Mapimí, more precisely with at the tripoint of the States de Chihuahua, Durango and Coahuila."
"It was noticed the first time in the 1930's by Francisco Sarabia, a Mexican pilot who claimed that his radio had mysteriously ceased functioning when he had flown over it. Later, other people reportedly announced a disappearance of radio signals and "breakdowns of compasses" when visiting the area, which would also attract meteorites and would cause various mental problems to the visitors. No proof was ever presented in support of these claims."
"This zone is on the same parallel as the Bermuda Triangles and the pyramids of Gizeh."
|
|
|
Above: "Zona del Silencio" landscapes. |
|
The fact of finding again the three characters in a different may be explained: since the two men were lost - we are told they wanted to ask their way - it may be very well have happened that they drove twice about the same place. What cannot be explained simply is why the photographer did not see the characters, especially in this desert zone normal not offering obstacles to the sight; but this, on the other end, may have been invented, of course.
The driver did not see them, while the journalist was able to have a conversation with them. This is strange indeed, but this driver is not named and there is no evidence anyone interviewed him about the incident.
I found some videos in Spanish about the "Zona del Silencio" mysteries. There is an interview of Harry de la Pena, thus a real person, introduced as an "engineer" - he discusses a piece of rock presented as a meteorite, which he says is weird as it is 3 times older than the solar system.
The documentary also says there is an abnormal number of genetic mutations in the area's life, as the sun hits severely. It also shows that some people do circulate in the area, so that it seems it cannot be so unusual to meet people there.
Another video on the web shows journalist Luis Ramirez Reyes with ufologist Ana Luisa Cid in a TV show about UFOs. It appears the journalist wrote a book about UFOS called "Alertas OVNIS", and is an active, well-known, UFO journalist in Mexico.
 Luis Ramirez Reyes at a UFO TV show with Ana Luisa Cid. |
 Luis Ramirez Reyes at an earlier UFO TV show. |
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Severe | May 22, 2012 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Primary source not available. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 2 | Ufology | Severe | May 22, 2012 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | No sign of investigation, brief narration only. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 3 | Ufology | Severe | May 22, 2012 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Missing basic data, such as exact date, wether it was day or night. | Help needed. | Opened. |
| 4 | Ufology | Severe | May 22, 2012 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | Low strangeness, no UFO, entities are ordinary people, ordinary behaviour. | Help needed. | Opened. |
Confusion or invention. Not UFO-related.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | May 22, 2012 | Creation, [ar1], [ur1], [sc1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | May 22, 2012 | First published. |
