Those who have watched animatrix probably remember one of the
short films where a girl finds a abandoned house where she could
fly around, defy gravity and do all sorts of stunts. Well, such
place does exist in our Earth.
The Oregon Vortex
On a hillside in southwest Oregon, there is a circular area of
about 165 feet diameter in which strange phenomena occur. For
example, at certain locations within this "vortex," compasses and
light meters behave erratically and people standing in a relaxed
position will stand at an angle or sway back and forth at 22 second
intervals. The most noticeable effect is that of apparent changes
in size of objects and people. In some areas of the vortex, when
two people are placed opposite each other on level ground and along
a north/south axis, each person will be measurably smaller on the
left side than when positioned on the right side. This effect is
noticed by the people themselves as well as by any observer.
Scientists have studied this area, which Native Americans called
"the forbidden ground," and have given a variety of explanations.
One recurring proposition is that the anomalies are related to a
dense ore deposit in the ground. Some theorize that the apparent
change in size is only an optical or light effect. Others, however,
consider the change to be physical, and note that blind persons can
sense the changes in size by touch and hear the other person's
voice coming from an elevated or lowered position. Despite all the
measurements and calculations no one has yet succeeded in fully
explaining the phenomena in accordance with accepted scientific
models.
And there's always a new theory on the gift shop shelves, the
latest explaining how TIME speeds up and S-S-L-L-O-W-W-W-W-S-S-S
down in a vortex, depending on where you stand and when. One man
who apparently knew the secret of the Oregon Vortex -- John Litster
-- studied its effects first-hand for more than forty years. He
even corresponded with Einstein on the subject. What he uncovered
no one will ever know, for he burned all his notes before his
death.
"The world isn't yet ready for what goes on here," he warned.
