Inside the MYSTERIOUS World of 200 Million Termite Mounds
Scientists embark on an incredible journey through the Brazilian desert to uncover the secret behind the mysterious 200 million dirt mounds.
July 13th, 2019, Scientist Roy Funch is journeying to Northern Brazil. He's here to Investigate something Bizarre revealed from space. You can't let an opportunity like this pass.
To see something that's never been seen in a very real sense, high over the forests of the Caatinga Region, the Geo Eye one satellite captures an expanse of Barren Soil recently cleared by Ranchers.
You see a Semi-Arid landscape with some kind of pock marks. Almost looks to me like it could have been bomb craters or some type of holes in the ground. Analysts count more than 300 circles across two patches of scrub. But zooming in reveals they aren't holes at all.
It looks like they're not depressions but are raised areas, mounds of some sort. When I look at the image, the idea that these structures could be some type of burial mounds is plausible. Giant burial mounds have been discovered elsewhere in the Amazon dating back as far as 6000 years ago.
If the satellite has revealed an undiscovered Ancient burial site, then its scale is unparalleled. It's so vast. The possibility that they could be burial mounds is amazing. Funch is Skeptical of the burial mound theory. There's so many of them. You know, the burial mounds are usually reserved for, you know, Chiefs and high Priests and Rich people.
Yet, what they are is hard to tell. There's nothing like this in the world that I know of and I've never heard anything about them. The mounds sit in a 386,000 square mile wilderness known as the White Forest. What we call Caatinga, which is a dry land, thorny deciduous vegetation. That's really totally intertwined.
You can't see more than 20, 30ft in. Hey, this should be the spot Led by the image coordinates Fudge treks West seeking signs of the mounds among the thorns and scrub. Really hot, it gets sweltering here.
It's in the 90s already here but it'll get to 100 quite easily. I think we're getting near the Mound Fields I saw on the satellite images. This is where they are. Oh, wow. There we go. Mounds. Wow. Look at that, Magnificent. These are not burial mounds. Look how tall they are, how evenly spaced they are.
It's just another world. Having reached the site in the satellite image, Funch doubts these are man made nor does he believe they are a naturally occurring feature of the landscape. It's just actually inconceivable that there would be a purely Geological origin.
The two are symmetrical, there are two, even the two well spaces for me. They're pretty obviously biogenic, almost certainly built by some sort of a creature.
And Funch has suspicions about which creature. I'm more pushed toward it. Being a termite mound than any other animal that I can think of, Termites are famous for some of their huge structures in Africa and Australia. You get huge Termite mounds, very complex structures taller than this. But these structures look very different from Termite mounds found elsewhere in the world.
And as Funch explores further, he discovers that they cover a wider area than he ever imagined. Okay. You can see, there's a mound over there. It's quite camouflaged. One, two, third one over there. There's no reason why they shouldn't keep on going. This farce just goes on and on.
Returning to the satellite image, Funch makes a staggering discovery not hundreds of mounds, not even thousands, but millions. 200 million mounds stretching through the white forest for 90,000mi². If you zoom out a little bit, you can see the huge scale that we're talking about.
More than the state of Michigan, It's unbelievable. If this is the work of Termites, it's easily the largest colony on earth. But what baffles Funch is that this land appears to be lifeless. I don't see any Termite activity. I haven't seen a Lizard or a Snake or an Ant or anything crawling around here.
But this is the kind of environment that you just don't want to be active during the day. To learn more, Funch waits for dusk at night. The White Forest is a hunting ground for various wild animals. But Funch's prey is smaller. Now you have to be quiet when you're looking for Termites. You have to tread softly because they're very sensitive to vibrations on the ground. There's the guys. Lots of them around here. Termites are Earth's great survivors.
They were here before the Dinosaurs 250 million years ago. Ah, there's the whole. I found the whole, see the guy popping in and out. But there's no building activity. This seems to be a foraging party rather than a construction team. That's a leaf, they chewed on.
They probably have chambers where they store this food for the future. After several hours observing in the dark, Funch is no closer to understanding the hills seen from space. The only way we'll ever know that is if we come out during the day, dig them up. Yeah. The party continued, Termite mounds are normally riddled with ventilation shafts leading to numerous chambers.
At the very heart, sits the Royal Chamber. Here resides the Queen, one of the most extraordinary females in all nature. She can lay 25 eggs a minute for up to 50 years. Time enough to have a family of 250 million, Okay. Is this pure clay? This is what's under the mound. But they've hit plain dirt. We've dug into what appears to be a mound of dirt. All right. They're not living here.
Thanks for reading, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Kamusiime Comrade and writers in Earth and other communities.
What If a Tornado Hit a Hurricane?
Behind you, a colossal hurricane, moments away from making landfall. In front of you, a towering Tornado, fast-tracking its way toward the opposing storm. And you. Time’s run out. Escape is futile. Would they merge into a new kind of catastrophe? How much would it be capable of destroying? And can you survive this clash of wind titans?
By Kamusiime Comrade3 years ago in Earth
Chinese Planetary Engineering: The Great Green Wall and the Reclamation of Climate
There are junctures in history where a civilization no longer chooses between comfort and progress, but between adaptation and extinction. At the dawn of the new millennium, China hit one of those silent thresholds where geography ceases to be a backdrop and becomes an adversary. The desert was advancing, not as a metaphor for decay, but as a physical, methodical, and relentless force. Sand was devouring the horizon, winds grew heavy with dust, and the soil lost its fertile memory, taking with it the promise of social stability.
By Laurenceau Porte3 days ago in Earth
US Warns Airlines About Military Activity in Parts of Latin America
Commercial aviation is built on predictability—clearly defined airspace, coordinated air traffic control, and shared international rules. When that predictability is disrupted, even subtly, the ripple effects can stretch far beyond the cockpit. That is exactly why a recent warning from the United States has caught the attention of airlines, governments, and travelers alike. In early 2026, US aviation authorities issued an advisory warning airlines about military activity in parts of Latin America, urging pilots to exercise heightened caution when flying over certain regions. While no immediate restrictions or flight bans were imposed, the message itself was clear: something in the skies has changed, and the risks—however limited—can no longer be ignored. This development is not just about aviation safety. It reflects a growing intersection between geopolitics, military operations, and civilian infrastructure in a region that has long balanced cooperation with tension. What Exactly Did the US Warn About? The advisory, released through official aviation safety channels, highlighted concerns over potential military activity affecting airspace across parts of Mexico, Central America, South America, and nearby oceanic regions. Airlines were advised to remain vigilant during all phases of flight, including cruising at high altitudes, takeoff, and landing. Unlike routine notices related to weather systems or airport congestion, this warning explicitly referenced security-related risks. These include the possibility of unexpected military movements, temporary airspace disruptions, and interference with navigation systems that modern aircraft rely on for safe operations. Importantly, the warning did not accuse any specific country of wrongdoing, nor did it suggest an immediate danger to passengers. Instead, it served as a precaution—one designed to ensure airlines adjust flight planning, monitoring, and communication protocols accordingly. Why Military Activity Matters to Civil Aviation To the average traveler, military exercises or operations may seem distant from the experience of flying on a commercial jet. In reality, the two worlds often share the same skies. Civilian aircraft depend heavily on satellite navigation, coordinated air traffic control, and stable airspace rules. Military operations—especially those involving fast-moving aircraft, surveillance systems, or electronic equipment—can introduce uncertainty into that environment. Some of the key risks aviation authorities monitor include: Unplanned military aircraft movements that may not follow civilian flight patterns Temporary airspace closures or restrictions that require last-minute rerouting Navigation signal disruptions, whether accidental or intentional Increased congestion in strategic corridors used by both civilian and military flights While these risks are typically managed through coordination and communication, heightened military activity raises the stakes. The FAA’s advisory suggests that such activity has reached a level where additional caution is warranted. The Geopolitical Context Behind the Warning The timing of the advisory is not accidental. Latin America has seen a noticeable rise in security operations and military coordination involving the United States over the past year. These efforts are largely focused on counter-narcotics missions, maritime security, and regional stability, particularly in areas with strategic shipping routes or ongoing political tension. At the same time, broader global dynamics—ranging from great-power competition to shifting alliances—have increased the strategic importance of air and sea routes across the Western Hemisphere. From Washington’s perspective, issuing an aviation warning is not about alarmism. It is about acknowledging that military and security activities in the region may temporarily affect civilian systems, including aviation. How Airlines Are Responding For airlines, advisories like this are not unusual—but they are taken seriously. Most major carriers already operate with layered safety systems that allow them to respond quickly to changing conditions. In practical terms, this warning may lead to: Slight route adjustments to avoid specific airspace Enhanced pilot briefings before flights Increased coordination with air traffic controllers Closer monitoring of navigation and communication systems So far, there have been no widespread flight cancellations or suspensions linked directly to the warning. That suggests airlines view the risk as manageable, provided proper precautions are followed. Reactions from Latin American Governments Some governments in the region have been quick to reassure the public. Officials have emphasized that their national airspace remains safe and fully operational, and that civilian flights continue without disruption. This response highlights an important tension: while the US warning is precautionary, it can still affect public perception. Tourism, business travel, and investor confidence are all sensitive to suggestions of instability—even when no immediate danger exists. As a result, many countries are walking a careful line between cooperating on aviation safety and defending their reputation for stability. What This Means for Passengers For travelers, the key takeaway is simple: commercial aviation remains safe. Warnings like this are designed to prevent incidents, not predict them. Passengers flying through or over affected regions may experience slightly longer flight times or minor schedule adjustments, but there is no indication of increased danger to civilian aircraft. In fact, the existence of such advisories demonstrates how seriously aviation authorities take even low-probability risks. A Sign of a More Complex World The US warning to airlines is a reminder that modern air travel does not exist in a vacuum. As military operations, security concerns, and geopolitical rivalries evolve, civilian systems—from shipping lanes to flight paths—are increasingly affected. This moment underscores a broader reality: the skies are becoming more crowded, more contested, and more interconnected with global politics. Managing that complexity will require continued transparency, cooperation, and vigilance from governments, regulators, and airlines alike. For now, planes continue to fly, passengers continue to travel, and the system continues to work. But behind the scenes, aviation authorities are quietly adjusting to a world where safety is shaped not just by weather and mechanics—but by geopolitics as well.
By Muhammad Hassanabout 3 hours ago in Earth
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.