We Were Taught To Fear The Bermuda Triangle As Kids—We Should Have Feared The Congo Basin: ‘Pls Tell Me You’re On Congo Basin Tok’

There’s a classic John Mulaney joke about how cartoons make quicksand seem like an everyday hazard.

However, quicksand isn’t the only childhood fear that you’re not likely to encounter in the real, adult world. If you live a normal, average life, you will probably never have to deal with piranhas, nor will you ever fall into a well and need to have someone lower the bucket to pull you out. Instead, your greatest feeling of terror will probably come with a lot less fanfare—like your girlfriend sending you a text saying “We need to talk.”

One of those childhood fears was the Bermuda Triangle. If you believe the lore surrounding the area, it’s a place where, once you fly or sail in, you will never venture out.

Now, most of us understand that this is a myth. Airlines frequently pass through the Bermuda Triangle without issue. It turns out, mysterious airplane problems can happen just about anywhere!

But is there a place on this Earth that is like the legend of the Bermuda Triangle, but real? That’s what some people on the Internet are saying about the Congo Basin. Is it true?

Is The Congo Basin The Real Bermuda Triangle?

In a video with over 1.1 million views, TikTok user Jess (@creptyoufirst) poses a question to her viewers.

“Is anybody else wondering why we spent so much time as kids worrying about the Bermuda Triangle, when clearly, we should have been worrying about the Congo Basin?” she asks. “Like, this thing’s freaking me out. I’m nervous.”

In the caption, she adds, “Pls tell me you’re on Congo Basin Tok bc I can’t be this stressed alone.”

So, what’s going on with the Congo Basin?

This Is Why People Are Scared Of The Congo Basin

The reason why so many people on TikTok are talking about the Congo Basin appears to be because of a single man. That man is named Ash Dykes, and he’s a Welsh explorer and extreme athlete. On TikTok, he’s been documenting his excitement about his next great adventure: kayaking down the Congo Basin.

If you’re an explorer, there are plenty of reasons to be scared of the Congo Basin. It’s filled with almost endless potential dangers. For example, there are numerous animals that can cause problems for eager adventurers. Crocodiles, hippos, large goliath tigerfish, and a host of other species are common in the region.

From there, you also have to worry about illness. Mosquitoes in the area are known to carry malaria, and other problems like unsafe drinking water and yellow fever could be potential issues.

Finally, you have the river itself. It’s long and, in some places, super deep. In fact, areas of the river can reach depths of 720 feet. Add in the fact that it’s a moving river in an area with dangers both animal and political, and you can understand why Dykes calls it the most dangerous rainforest in the world.

It’s Not That Mysterious

All of that said, the magic of the Bermuda Triangle came from the fact that, if you were to believe the legend, all of these disappearances and problems happened out of nowhere. A plane would be flying, hit the Triangle, then have its radar mysteriously jammed before falling into a nosedive.

The Congo Basin isn’t quite like that. Instead, the dangers of the area are well-known—which is why it’s possible for someone like Dykes to go through it in the first place.

This doesn’t mean such a journey is easy or advisable. Instead, it just means that one can actually prepare for it.

In Dykes’ case, he shared some of his preparation in an interview with Men’s Fitness. According to Dykes, his preparation has involved five or six days of training per week, including deliberately uncomfortable workouts. He also shared his plans to adapt to local conditions, and the various gear he’s bringing with him to ensure his success.

It’s not as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle—but it’s definitely a place most people don’t want to be visiting anytime soon.

Viewers Are Fearful

In the comments section, users offered their own unexpected fears.

“I was worried about the super volcano under Yellowstone National Park,” a commenter wrote.

“The ‘waterfall in the ocean’ is what freaks me out,” another shared.

“I learned that one day the sun will literally expand to engulf the earth before it finally dies and I literally was terrified as if it would happen in my lifetime,” recalled a third.

BroBible reached out to Jess via TikTok direct message and comment.