The Hollow Earth

The Hollow Earth theory proposes that our planet is not a solid sphere but a hollow shell containing vast interior spaces - perhaps entire worlds with their own suns, continents, and advanced civilizations. While modern science has definitively disproven this concept, the idea has captivated imaginations for centuries and continues to inspire fringe believers.

Historical Development

Edmond Halley (1692): The famous astronomer proposed that Earth consisted of concentric shells separated by atmospheres, with a central core. He suggested the aurora borealis might be light from the inner atmospheres escaping through thin polar regions.

John Cleves Symmes Jr. (1818): An American military officer who became the most famous Hollow Earth advocate. Symmes proposed that Earth was hollow with openings at both poles, and campaigned for an expedition to find the northern entrance. He never got his expedition.

Cyrus Teed (1869): Proposed the “Cellular Cosmogony” - that we live on the inside of a hollow sphere, with the universe contained within. His followers established a commune in Florida based on this belief.

Marshall Gardner (1913): Wrote “A Journey to the Earth’s Interior,” proposing a hollow Earth with a small sun at the center, lit by this internal sun. He claimed the mammoths found frozen in Siberia had wandered out from the interior.

The Theory

Classic Hollow Earth theory proposes:

• Earth’s crust is 800-1,000 miles thick, surrounding a hollow interior
• Openings exist at the North and South Poles
• An internal sun provides light and heat to the interior
• Advanced civilizations may live inside
• Some propose that UFOs originate from the inner Earth
• Gravity would work differently inside, allowing inhabitants to live on the inner surface

The Nazi Connection

Some fringe researchers claim Nazi Germany explored Hollow Earth theories:

• Admiral Karl Dönitz allegedly referenced “an invulnerable fortress, a paradise on earth” in 1943
• Nazi expeditions to Antarctica supposedly sought polar openings
• After the war, some Nazis allegedly escaped to interior Earth
• “Operation Highjump,” a 1946-47 US Antarctic expedition, is claimed by conspiracy theorists to have encountered Nazis or inner Earth inhabitants

No credible evidence supports any of these claims.

Admiral Byrd

Richard E. Byrd, the famous polar explorer, is central to modern Hollow Earth conspiracy theories:

• Believers claim Byrd flew into a polar opening during his 1947 expedition
• A supposed “secret diary” describes his encounter with an advanced civilization
• The diary is almost certainly a hoax - its writing style differs from Byrd’s authenticated work
• Byrd’s actual expeditions were thoroughly documented and showed no evidence of polar openings

Scientific Reality

Modern science has definitively shown Earth is not hollow:

• Seismic waves from earthquakes reveal Earth’s internal structure
• The planet’s mass and density require a solid interior
• Gravity measurements are inconsistent with a hollow sphere
• Satellite imagery shows no polar openings
• Our understanding of planetary formation excludes hollow structures

The actual interior consists of a solid inner core, liquid outer core, mantle, and crust.

Modern Believers

Despite scientific evidence, Hollow Earth theories persist:

• Internet communities discuss supposed government coverups
• Some claim satellite images of the poles are doctored
• Connections are drawn to UFOs, Nazis, Atlantis, and other fringe topics
• A few expeditions have attempted to find polar openings, all unsuccessfully

Cultural Impact

Hollow Earth has inspired significant fiction:

• Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (1864)
• Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Pellucidar” series (1914-1963)
• Numerous films, television shows, and video games

The idea of hidden worlds beneath our feet continues to captivate imaginations, even if science has closed the door on its literal possibility.

Sources

• Hollow Earth - Wikipedia