UFO Navigator - No 077 - 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NAVIGATOR
Issue: October 2004, No. 9 (0077)
Document Type: Russian ufological digest

This issue of "UFO Navigator" delves into various unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings, and related news from around the world, with a particular focus on events in Russia and South America.

Main Cover Story: Inexplicable "Felling" in Argentina and Canada

The lead story details anomalous events in Ushuaia, Argentina, where residents witnessed strange glowing objects in the sky. Experts investigating the area discovered a forest clearing spanning 150 square meters, with eight-meter-tall trees snapped off. Notably, there were no signs of impact or contact on the ground. Rogelio Acevedo, an Argentinian scientist, speculated about a meteorite or satellite debris, but a final conclusion awaited further study. The incidents occurred on September 14th and 15th, 2004. Local reports described "multicolored spheres" falling. Fernando Garcia, a scientist who visited the site, described the scene as if a plane had crashed, but found no wreckage. The trees were felled in a north-south direction, with their tops broken at heights of 6-8 meters, suggesting a falling object. A similar event was reported in Canada near the Mackenzie River, where two large circular areas of felled poplars, 151 and 91 meters in diameter, were found.

News Briefs

• Argentinian "Felling": A recap of the Ushuaia incident.
• Swiss Contactee's "Blunder": Billy Meier's prediction of Earth's collision with asteroid 4179 Toutatis on September 29, 2004, proved false, as did a previous prediction from ZetaTalk for May 2003.
• UFOs in Estonia: A woman in Oluvere reported seeing a low-flying object with blinking lights and three light columns. The object moved towards Kolga-Jaani, where ambulance personnel also observed it, describing horizontal light beams.
• UFOs in India: Indian geologists reported seeing an unidentified object at an altitude of 14,500 feet in the Himalayas.
• Roswell "Blunders": Philip Corso's son claimed that Roswell aliens were actually future humans. Another incident involved "photo expert" Bruce Maccabee being fooled by Karl Wilson's staged UFO photos, which were actually images of a computer mouse.
• Mars Life: Areas on Mars have been identified where life might exist, based on the detection of methane and water vapor.
• Space News: The "Genesis" probe capsule crashed upon reentry. The "Huygens" module for Titan exploration passed a test. The MESSENGER probe had its trajectory corrected. Military satellites "Cosmos-2408," "Cosmos-2409," and "Cosmos-2410" were launched from Plesetsk.

"Snow Man" Debate Continues

Russian biologist Vladimir Vitaliev controversially suggested that "snow men" are simply feral humans or individuals with psychological issues. He argued that their physical traits could develop over generations of isolation and interbreeding. However, this theory is challenged by the lack of parasites in "snow man" feces, suggesting they are rare in the wild. The article also notes sightings of large, ape-like creatures in Argentina and Central Africa, with some experts considering them a new primate species.

Anomalous Zones of the Urals

The "Stalker" research group has compiled a list of anomalous zones in the Ural region. These include:

• Gat Station (Sverdlovsk Oblast): Areas in the forest with large mushrooms, unusual vegetation, and distorted trees, causing discomfort and fear.
• Gerasimovka (Sverdlovsk Oblast): Known as a "rotten" place with many sorcerers and people with paranormal abilities.
• Yuryuzan Mountain and Bolshoy Iremel Mountain (Chelyabinsk Oblast): Mentioned for mysterious caves and legends of hidden people.
• Chertovo Gorodishche (Black Devil's Settlement): A hill near the Tura River, believed to be artificially constructed, with reports of strange lights and spirits.
• Didino (Sverdlovsk Oblast): A railway station area with distorted trees and vegetation, causing severe physical discomfort.
• Ural Dolmens: Ancient megalithic structures found in various locations.
• Zheleznov House (Yekaterinburg): Reported to be haunted by a female ghost.
• Golden (Tsar's) Gates: A natural arch formation with legends of ritualistic significance and danger.
• Ignatievskaya Cave (Chelyabinsk Oblast): Contains ancient cave paintings and evidence of prehistoric human habitation, with reports of electromagnetic phenomena.
• Ilmensky Nature Reserve: Features "bottomless holes" on slopes, speculated to be related to UFO activity.
• Irbit District: Rumors of an underground alien base.
• Isakovo (Alapayevsk District): Reports of frequent sightings of luminous objects, with the area compared to the Perm anomaly zone.

Other Articles

• "Traders of Stars" Debunked: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) clarifies that selling names of stars or plots of land on the Moon is illegal and fraudulent.
• Yuri Labin's Expeditions: Criticism of Yuri Labin's expeditions, particularly regarding claims of finding remnants of an alien spacecraft near the Tunguska event site. The article dismisses these claims as "dirty" technology and fabricated news.
• John Edward Mack's Death: The passing of renowned ufologist and historian John Edward Mack is reported.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained aerial phenomena, alleged alien encounters, and mysterious geological or biological anomalies. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting various accounts and theories while also debunking hoaxes and questionable claims, as seen in the sections on the "snow man" debate and the "traders of stars." There's an emphasis on scientific analysis where possible, but also an openness to reporting on phenomena that defy conventional explanation. The recurring theme is the ongoing mystery surrounding UFOs and other anomalous events, and the human drive to understand them.

This issue of "UFO Magazine" (Volume 1, Issue 10, October 2004) focuses on "UFOs and Anomalous Phenomena of the Urals," presenting a collection of reports, eyewitness accounts, and brief investigations from various locations across the Ural region of Russia.

Regional Anomalies and Sightings

The magazine details numerous reported sightings and phenomena, often linking them to local folklore and legends.

• Koptelevo and Tabory: Representatives of a group visited these settlements but found no witnesses to UFOs or other anomalies, noting a lack of local "anomalous" folklore. However, caves were discovered on the banks of the Rezh River, which were natural formations.
• Itkul Lake: Described as an "unclean" lake in the Chelyabinsk region, where people have reported feeling an invisible cord pulling them underwater.
• Karspinsk: In 1927, local residents reportedly observed a cigar-shaped object explode in the sky, with data existing in the archives of the Meteorite Commission of the Academy of Sciences.
• Kachkanar: This industrial city in the Sverdlovsk region is known for regular appearances of a glowing object in February 2004, with eyewitness accounts and photographs available to the local newspaper "Kachkanarsky Rabochiy." A Buddhist temple is also located on Kachkanar Mountain.
• Kishert: In the Perm region, UFOs were frequently observed in the late 1980s and early 1990s over the Sylva River near Lopata Mountain. Sightings have become rarer, with the last known case in May 2003.
• Kosvinsky Kamen: Near the village of Kytlym, military personnel are reportedly constructing a secret tunnel and underground facility, which some ufologists believe is related to UFOs.
• Kyshtym: Famous for the humanoid "Alyoshenka," the city also features the Sugomak Cave, where speleologists allegedly found unknown small crustaceans. "Kosmopoisk" members detected three strange objects under silt in the lake using sonar, described as hollow, disc-shaped structures.
• Mahadi-Tash: A miraculous stone in the Kunashaksky district, near Ust-Bagaryak, bears an imprint attributed to Saint Makhadi. People visit it for prayer.
• Malyye Brusyany: In the Beloyarsky district, near Yekaterinburg, an area where a church cross was allegedly buried in the 1940s has remained barren for 60 years. Members of the "Stalker" group visited in June 2003, but the site had been asphalted.
• Mikhaylovsk: In the Sverdlovsk region, a crop circle was discovered in the summer of 2003, characterized by un-grown vegetation and dead insects. The soil was found to be saturated with petroleum products.
• Mokhovichki: A village near Chelyabinsk, reportedly visited by glowing UFOs resembling gears.
• Myagkovo: A village in the Taborinsky district with a past reputation for being haunted.
• Nizhny Tagil: The oldest library in this city is reportedly haunted by the ghost of Aurora Karlovna Karamzina, whose poem is said to cause the death of readers.
• Nizhnyaya Tavda: Unidentified objects are frequently observed over the district center and surrounding areas, with some reportedly landing.
• "Olenyi Ruchyi" (Deer Streams): This national park near Nizhnyaya Serginsk is associated with numerous anomalous phenomena, including sightings of lights and disappearances of people.
• "Platonida": A pilgrimage site and natural monument featuring a radon spring. Legends speak of an ascetic named Platonida. The spring is believed to have healing properties.
• Polevskoy Vicinity: Associated with the tales of Pavel Bazhov, this area is said to be inhabited by a tall, beautiful people known as "Chud" who live in underground dwellings. Legends also mention a giant serpent and underground tunnels.
• Rastess: A former gold-mining settlement, now abandoned, reportedly frequented by aliens. The Babinovsky tract, a former trade route, is also associated with mysterious lights in the sky.
• Sikiyaz-Tamak: An underground city in the Chelyabinsk region, comprising over 42 caves, with evidence of human presence from all historical epochs.
• Suleya: Residents of this Chelyabinsk region village reportedly encounter "snowmen" (leshy) in the forest. A nearby swamp also has a bad reputation.
• Syzgi: In the Krasnoufimsky district, a geophysical survey team discovered an "anomalous" zone where car engines fail and clocks stop.
• Sredneuralsk Region: Geologists identify this region as seismically active, with tectonic disturbances and numerous atmospheric anomalies, including unusual winds, dry thunderstorms, and ball lightning.
• Taganay: A mountain range near Zlatoust, known for its beauty, but also associated with claims of "snowmen," UFOs, time distortions, and other anomalies. The magazine suggests that while some anomalies exist, many are natural phenomena.
• Toboľsk Marshland: This area in the Tyumen region contains burial mounds linked to legends of dwarf-like people who warred with cranes. Miniature skulls found near two mounds suggest the existence of people no taller than half a meter.
• Turinsk: For two years (2001-2003), residents reported seeing a small green object, the size of a light bulb, moving over the city, often appearing above the match factory and moving towards the pulp and paper mill.
• Tura: A railway bridge is reportedly a site where aliens are seen, and mysterious lights are observed.
• Uktus Mountain: Local occultists claim this mountain near Yekaterinburg has "places of power" where one can recall past lives. The area is also said to have stones that are "repositories of knowledge."
• Ural Petroglyphs: Rocks along the Tagil, Neyva, and Rezh rivers feature ancient drawings made with ochre. Some interpretations suggest these are complex chemical element diagrams, possibly transmitted by extraterrestrials.
• Filatovskoye: This village in the Sukholozhsky district has reportedly been visited by UFOs, appearing as bright stars that move erratically, stop abruptly, change direction, and disappear.
• Chusovaya River: In the 1970s, "snowmen" were reportedly seen along this river. In 1974, mermaids were sighted in the water, and in 1991, glowing spheres were frequently observed. Dragon Rock is said to repel ill-intentioned individuals.
• Shalya: This village in the Sverdlovsk region, near Molebka, experiences frequent UFO sightings. A meteorite fell into a pond in June 1980, creating a magnetic anomaly. The area is also known for dolmens, which are rare in the region.

International Encounters and Research

The magazine also includes reports from outside Russia:

• Contact in Argentina (1974): Enrico Castillo, an engineer, claims to have had telepathic contact with a UFO crew and was invited aboard their craft. The encounter was later canceled.
• Estonia Landing (1989): A milk truck driver and his passenger witnessed a silver, barrel-shaped object from which two humanoid figures emerged. They reported a loss of time and a feeling of fear.
• Altai Krai Phenomenon (1963): A large, dark red glow was observed in the sky, accompanied by a luminous sphere resembling the moon.
• Rезекне, Lithuania (1990): A mysterious phenomenon caused electrical disturbances, including streetlights and a television malfunctioning.

Research and Theory

• D. Mack-Campbell's Research: The magazine reviews a book by D. Mack-Campbell, which proposes two hypotheses for UFO phenomena: the reliability of eyewitness accounts and the emission of powerful electromagnetic radiation by UFOs. The book suggests that the physical vacuum might be the source of UFO energy, referencing the "Fundamental Field Theory" (TFT).
• UFO Research in the USSR and USA: The article notes that while the USSR has around 300 documented UFO sightings, systematic collection is lacking due to official skepticism. In contrast, the USA has a more organized approach, with the establishment of research centers and the involvement of universities and organizations like MUFON.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights the presence of anomalous phenomena across the Urals, often blending eyewitness accounts with local legends and folklore. The magazine presents these reports as areas of interest for investigation, sometimes with a critical eye, as seen in the dismissal of the Nizhny Tagil ghost story by the "Stalker" group. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and exploring these mysteries, encouraging further scientific inquiry while acknowledging the limitations of current understanding. The inclusion of international cases and theoretical discussions suggests a broad interest in the UFO phenomenon.

This issue of the magazine delves into various aspects of UFO research, unexplained phenomena, and related folklore. It highlights efforts in the United States to study UFOs scientifically, including the establishment of a dedicated ground station, while noting the relative lack of such organized efforts in the Soviet Union. The publication also features a glossary of terms related to UFO sightings and phenomena.

Scientific Research and US Efforts

The magazine reports on the creation of a US ground station for UFO communication, led by Professor R. Stanford. This facility aims to identify UFO characteristics and attempt contact using various signals. A significant event mentioned is the capture of an image of a yellow-white UFO on October 2, 1974, traveling at an estimated speed of 16,000 km/h and executing sharp turns. The article expresses optimism about future discoveries in UFO research in the US, contrasting it with the perceived lack of similar initiatives in the Soviet Union.

Critique of Past Research and Theories

The publication criticizes the past approach to UFO phenomena, particularly mentioning the work of Professor Menzel and his book, which is described as having been influenced by the Pentagon. It suggests that Menzel's attempts to explain UFOs with trivial reasons were unsuccessful. The article references critiques of Menzel's work by Professor D. McDonald and Professor D. Hynek, whose book 'The Scientific Study of UFOs' (1972) is noted. The prevailing working hypothesis for UFOs in the US is presented as the 'Extraterrestrial Hypothesis' (ETH), suggesting that UFOs are alien spacecraft, possibly piloted. The article acknowledges that no viable alternative hypothesis has been found, and entertains the possibility that Earth has been studied by an extraterrestrial civilization throughout history.

Case Studies and Phenomena

The issue presents several detailed accounts of unusual phenomena:

'Flying Man'

This section describes sightings of human-like figures, often small in stature (around 3.5 feet), equipped with a backpack-like device that enables flight. One account from Bolivia details a creature killing a sheep using a hooked instrument. Another report from Puerto Rico describes a similar being observed by a family and neighbors, with a device on its back that emitted lights and beams. A historical account from Kazakhstan in 1936 also mentions a 'human-like figure in black' with a backpack-like object.

'Flying Dutchman'

This phenomenon is presented in two contexts: first, as a reference to abandoned ships like the 'Mary Celeste,' found adrift without a crew. Second, it refers to a legendary ghost ship. The article recounts a sighting of a 'Flying Dutchman' near Sydney in 1881, described as a brig with a strange red light. Another incident involves a three-masted sailing ship sighted near Fernando de Noronha Island in 1988, which emitted a blue glow and disappeared. The article also discusses how some 'Flying Dutchman' sightings near Cape Horn might be optical illusions caused by sunlight and coastal features, though some cases remain unexplained.

'Lipstall Case'

This case, reported in the newspaper 'Trud' in 1985, describes an anomalous event in Estonia on March 2, 1984. Residents reported a fiery glow and the appearance of houses engulfed in flames, but upon arrival of fire trucks, no fires were found. A witness reported seeing a house brightly illuminated as if by flames, but without smoke or sound. The house was intact, and the elderly resident, Lizzi Lipstall, was found unharmed. Another account describes a fire truck pursuing an orange, glowing ball that moved at high speed and then disappeared.

Other Phenomena

Brief mentions are made of 'Flying Triangles' (FT), 'Mikirov's Lens-shaped Clouds,' and 'Linstal's Case.'

Miscellaneous Reports

Mysterious Bird Deaths in Greece

On September 9, 2004, thousands of dead birds were found in Lake Koronia, Greece. The cause of death was unknown, and specialists were investigating. UFO proponents suggested possible causes such as chemical dumping from aircraft or the testing of electromagnetic weapons.

New Chamber in the Pyramid of Cheops?

French scientists Gilles Dormoyon and Jean-Yves Verdhart claimed to have discovered a 'secret chamber' beneath the 'Queen's Chamber' in the Pyramid of Cheops using sensitive microgravimeters. Japanese researchers reportedly confirmed the existence of a multi-meter void. The purpose of this chamber remains speculative, with theories ranging from the burial place of Pharaoh Khufu to a repository of knowledge from Atlantis or treasures.

Amazonian 'Nasca'

Giant geoglyphs, similar in significance to those in Peru's Nasca desert, were discovered in the Brazilian Amazon. These geoglyphs, measuring several hundred meters, depict geometric shapes like circles, squares, and octagons, and are partially obscured by vegetation.

Loch Ness Monster: A New Hypothesis

Italian scientist Luigi Piccardi proposes that the Loch Ness Monster sightings are a result of hallucinations induced by gases released from a tectonic fault line that runs through the area. He suggests that these gases can cause people to see fantastical creatures, similar to how ancient oracles might have experienced visions.

Criticism and Bibliography

This section reviews current UFO periodicals and books. It includes a rating system for publications. A specific review is given to Petrobraztsov's book 'Antimuldashev. Who is the Ufimsky Ophthalmologist From?', which is highly praised for its critique of the work of a controversial figure named Muldashev. The review quotes journalist Sergey Melnikov, who claims Muldashev's 'discoveries' were fabricated and that he refused an offer to organize an expedition to prove his claims.

Announcements

Announcements include the first meeting of the Ufological Commission in a new season, a round table on 'Phenomena of Artifacts' in Kiev, and a report on the Roswell incident. The Ufological Commission of the Russian Geographical Society is holding its first meeting, featuring a report on the Roswell incident and discussions on events from the summer of 2004.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the scientific study of UFOs, often contrasting international efforts with the situation in the Soviet Union. There is a clear leaning towards the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis as a primary explanation for UFO phenomena, while acknowledging the need for rigorous scientific investigation. The publication also shows interest in historical accounts, folklore, and unexplained anomalies, suggesting a broad scope for the study of the unusual. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the exploration of these complex and often controversial topics, while also being critical of unsubstantiated claims and pseudoscientific theories, as evidenced by the review of 'Antimuldashev.' The magazine aims to inform readers about ongoing research, notable cases, and theoretical discussions within the field of ufology.