For those who believe, no evidence is necessary.
For those who do not, none will suffice.
—Stuart Chase
Massive, geometrical, elaborate, controversial … all these words have been used to describe the phenomena of Crop Circles. Strange designs pressed into crop fields, they range from simple circles to elaborate pictograms, some of which extend up to thousands of feet and acres of land.
Whether one believes that Crop Circles are associated with UFO activity, are messages from extraterrestrials, or prefers to find solace in the idea that all of these are man-made and nothing more than hoaxes; we think it’s fair to say that we can agree: Crop Circles are real. That is … they really do appear, and the fields of corn and grain are just another canvas on which some stunning pieces of art are created.
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Each summer, the Wiltshire countryside is host to the crop circle phenomenon. The county, with its fields of rape, barley, and wheat, is one of the most active areas for crop circles in the world, particularly around the historical stones of Avebury and Silbury Hill.
A crop circle in a field at Roundway, Wiltshire, created on 29 April, 2009.
The 2009 season began with an unprecedented six formations in April. Michael Glickman, an expert on the phenomena, said: “I’ve seen the odd [crop circle] in rape fields previously but this year I know of 11 giant yellow circles that have appeared this month alone. The crop is tougher and more brittle than corn or barley so it’s mind-boggling to think how the intricate designs have been made.”
A crop circle in a field at Clatford, Wiltshire, created on 4 May, 2009.
The phenomenon peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s, but continues today. An average of 30 crop circles appear each year in the UK, around 80% of them in Wiltshire
Crop Circle in a field at Roundway Hill, Wiltshire, created on 10 May, 2009.
One online alien “fact” site states that 85% percent of the world’s crop circles appear in England near Stonehenge. While we couldn’t find anything to back up that statement, a lot of Crop Circles do appear in England, and many along ley lines and sacred sites.
The circles can take the shape of DNA structures, scorpions, snowflakes, helices, webs, knots and complex geometric patterns.
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As the number of crop circles has grown, so has the mythology surrounding them.
Some invoke the theory of ley lines: mystical seams of spiritual energy that intersect at sacred sites like Avebury and Stonehenge.
More than 10,000 crop circle formations have been documented in over 50 countries.
“Others claim that the circles are created by an extra-terrestrial intelligence attempting to warn humanity about climate change, nuclear war and similar existential threats.”
Some circles are said to have been created by magnetic fields. Prominent crop circle researcher, Colin Andrews, said there’s a possibility that about 20% of designs are created by natural forces. This means that fluctuations in Earth’s natural magnetic forces electrocuted the crops, causing them to collapse and fall into shapes called ‘Fractal Patterns’. Research into this has shown readings of magnetic fields around circle matched the shape of the design.
“One even appeared in May 2020 in the shape of a coronavirus, leading some to speculate that crop circles are trying to give us clues about immunology and Covid-19.”
Orbs of light often appear near crop circles, either directly before or during when the circles appeared. This has led many to believe that the orbs of light are responsible for creating the patterns in the crops. Although, it has been noted that thousands of crop circles appear without lights seen.
Among those who discount the alien hypothesis, a common theory is that human circle makers “tap into” some kind of collective consciousness, perhaps explaining the prevalence in crop circles of universal mathematical patterns that also occur in nature – the fractal branching of snowflakes and blood vessels and spiraling shells
It’s true, many crop circles have outright been proven a hoax (as in man-made and not created by a supernatural force). One of the main methods is the “Bend Test,” as obvious crop circle hoaxes usually have the stems of the crops broken and snapped into place.
The community of seekers who devote their time to researching the paranormal possibilities of crop circles are known as “croppies”.
With other unexplained crop circles, a bend is found to have been made near the plant’s first node—a bend that is caused by extreme heat which then causes the stem to soften and bend rather than break. Although, the source of such intense heat remains a mystery.
Chief among these “croppies” is Monique Klinkenbergh, who established the Crop Circle Exhibition & Information Centre, in the Wiltshire village of Honeystreet.
This tiny hamlet has become an unlikely hub for paranormal research; in addition to the exhibition center, it is home to the Barge Inn, where croppies gather to swap reports of new crop circles and speculate on their origins.
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*fun facts from BBC Travel
*Some of the pictures
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