Reader Report: Unknown Puerto Rico land forms
"While planning my vacation to Vieques, Puerto Rico, I was checking out Google Earth when I came across these strange land formations on the northeastern tip of the isle," writes Edwin Vazquez. "I estimate their size to be from about 250 to 400 feet across, and the sidesloping walls could easily be about 30 to 50 feet high. The location of these geoglyphs is within a US Park service wildlife refuge.
"It is well known that the island had a large US naval base for several decades near where these geoglyphs are located, but they don't strike me as something that the US Navy would leave behind. I tried contacting a couple of archeologist about their thoughts on what these may be. One gentleman by the name of Dr. Culottes, a renowned expert on petroglyphs, seems intrigued by the shapes, but could not offer a guess on what they may be. Another archeology expert from the University of PR never answered after our initial e-mail contact, but he at first said that he would not be surprised if the US Navy may have produced the formations.
"I tried visiting the sites where these formations are located, but access to the area is closed off and patrolled by US Park Service Forest Rangers armed with M-16 and 9mm sidearms, who ensure that if you missed the large red and white Restricted Area signs and barriers across the dirt roads leading to the geoglyphs, you won't miss their 4x4 Jeep Cherokee that straddles the road further up from their colorful barricades."
Photos: © 2008 Europa Technologies © 2008 Tele Atlas
Comments
That’s really weird! What do you think it is. Some kind of UFO markings?
They kind of look like starfish or some type of tropical flower. Maybe that was an important symbol to the natives who previously lived in that area. But if that were the case, why the tight security? Neat find!
Looks like old artillary enplacements
I live in Puerto Rico, and that looks like how the native indians of Puerto Rico(the tainos), portraited the starfish, but what is very strange is that no one has seen this since that area was protected by US naval base in Vieques, but they had already left, and supposedly they are cleaning that area up, beacuse they made there naval games with live ammo.
These are decommisioned Nike missle battery sites with all of the equipment removed.
A Vieques native reported them as targets made by the Navy.
If you take a look at http://www.nikemissile.org/
you will see numerous pictures of nike missile sites not one of them looks or resembles the starfish formations of Vieques. Also they definitely do not appear to be SAM missile sites(the configuration is not accurate since most SAM sites have a star of david formation). As to being targets for navy practice why weren’t they completely demolished since live ammno was used extensively by the navy on Vieques thus there should be nothing left of them and we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
Hmmm… Very intruging ! I am a big fan of these kiind of things, but i would have to agree that if it is only now they have been found, its most likely something to do with missile batterys.
It’s a naval bombing target. This area was used by the US Navy from 1941 to 2003 as a bombing range. There are two of these symbols, and if you look closely, you’ll the the terrain is pockmarked with bomb craters. Also, a short distance to the west, you’ll see two junk aircraft placed to simulate an enemy airfield. I have a lot of experience with military targeting and bombs, and no, the bombs *don’t* “obliterate” the geoglyphic targets. If you don’t believe me, check out the dozens of Army Air Force targets still in place all over New Mexico.