Laguna Cartagena and the Lajas extraterrestrial route
The account
Locals and ufologists say lights fly in and out of Laguna Cartagena, where there is supposedly an underwater UFO base.
What investigators found
There is no proof of any base; many lights and white objects seen in the area are explained by the radar balloon (aerostat) kept in Lajas.
The story
In southwestern Puerto Rico, near Cabo Rojo, Laguna Cartagena has become one of the most cited places in Caribbean ufology. Researchers and residents of Lajas have reported for decades lights that hover over the water, dive into the lagoon or rise out of it, giving rise to stories of an underwater base. The road that cuts through the valley earned the nickname "Ruta Extraterrestre", promoted by local resident Reinaldo Ríos, who claims contact with beings from other planets and even proposed a UFO "airport".
No official investigation has confirmed any unusual activity. The area is home to an aerostat, a radar balloon tethered by cable and used for air surveillance, which has been mistaken for a UFO. For skeptics, the valley's dark skies, airplanes, satellites and the balloon itself explain most of the reports.