The Sargasso Sea, a huge eddy within the North Atlantic

Ocean, was first observed by Christopher Columbus on his

intial West Indies voyage. It takes its name from the floating

seaweed called Sargassum, or gulfweed, a brown algae that

is easily recognized by the many small berrylike bladders

which keep it afloat.

Shifting currents impart a whirlpool-like shape and motion

to the Sargasso, and objects are gradually drawn toward its

center, where, legend has it, century-old ships still float,

rotting, eternally trapped by the matted weed and lack of

wind to fill their sails...

While the waters beneath the seaweed might be hundreds

of fathoms deep, the calm surface and floating vegetation

give an impression of shallows-so much that Columbus re-

duced his westward speed for fear of running aground. The

Santa Maria, Pinta, and Niha were becalmed and drifted

there, entrapped by the yellow and green weeds for weeks.

Today, travelers in high-powered ships, in airplanes-and

even in space vehicles-still enter the Sargasso Sea and van-

ish for all time.

No one knows why.