With interests in science and nature, I explores topics from a unique and sometimes controversial perspective.

Is the Earth Hollow?

Hollow Earth Theory is an interesting hypothesis, one almost too amazing to get your mind around. There are those who believe that our planet holds a dark secret, witnessed by few and guarded by governments. The idea is equal parts absurd and fascinating and has many supporters around the world.

The secret they foster is one which says our world is actually hollow, and another society of beings lives inside. All we have known of this planet, all the history and science taught in schools and universities, is only a half-truth. The real truth lies within.

Imagine our planet to be like a bead. We live on the surface of the bead. The holes in the bead are the north and south poles. With the right transportation, one could travel straight through the bead (planet). Inside, strange and wonderful things exist, some beyond our imagination.

Many Hollow Earth believers allege UFOs come from inside our planet, not another galaxy. They are vehicles piloted by inner-earth inhabitants, who make an appearance on our turf only occasionally. They come from a place where mammoths still roam, and glowing cities flourish. The Northern Lights are, in fact, reflections of those city lights off of the atmosphere.

Sound kooky? Maybe, but Hollow Earth Theory has had its proponents throughout history, from ancient times up into the modern-day. Surely 21st-century science can disprove such an inane notion. Given all we know of seismic waves, gravity, geology and the formation of planets, no credible evidence could possibly exist in favor of this whimsical concept.

Yet many believe in the possibility, partly thanks to the diary of Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Byrd’s alleged written testimony has bolstered Hollow Earth theory in recent decades and lent some credibility to the concept. But is Byrd's story true?

Who Was Admiral Byrd?

Admiral Richard E. Byrd was an early-20th century adventurer and explorer. He was an intrepid fellow, and if anyone could have made it to some kind of inner Earth it was him. Understanding a little more about Admiral Byrd, and the time in which he lived, might help us to understand a bit more about exactly what may have happened to him.

Byrd was a U.S. Navy officer and navigation expert. In 1926 he completed the first-ever flight over the North Pole, though in more recent times some contest he never actually reached the pole. The next year he completed one of the first trans-Atlantic flights, only a few weeks after Charles Lindbergh’s record-setting adventure. In 1929 Byrd became the first pilot to fly to the south pole and back.

It’s obvious that Byrd was adventurous, daring, and out to make a name for himself. But this was the nature of times. Many of the machines we take for granted today, such as airplanes and automobiles, were still very new back then, and men and women were taking shots at records left and right.

And, back in the 1920s, there were still many places in the world where people had never been. It was men like Admiral Richard E. Byrd who blazed the trails for the scientists and adventurers of today.

Byrd went on to visit the Antarctic several more times, and, as legend has it, ventured once more to the North Pole in 1947. It was this alleged 1947 expedition that set his name in stone with Hollow Earth believers.

Admiral Byrd's Hollow Earth Story

In 1947 Byrd allegedly undertook another flight over the North Pole. This time, in a diary that didn’t surface until years later, Byrd recorded events as he flew into the earth, and encountered the inhabitants who live there.

Allegedly, he landed his craft and spoke with a representative of the city of Agartha (referred to as Ariana in some accounts), who reprimanded him for humanity’s recent invention of the atomic bomb, and warned that a dark age is to come if humans don’t shape up. Byrd was sent on his way, with instructions to bring this message back to the surface people.

Byrd was a decorated military man and public figure. It seems unlikely that he would lie about something he experienced on an expedition, but quite likely he would want to keep it a secret. There are few explorers who would be considered more reliable than Richard E. Byrd, so if Byrd did keep such a diary it probably happened.

But, then again, that's the real issue. There are those who say Byrd’s 1947 flight never even occurred, and so the question becomes: Is Byrd’s diary real, or is it a falsification dreamt up by some great hoaxer?

The story does have one problem: During the time original accounts of this flight to inner earth are alleged to have occurred, Byrd is documented to have been on the other side of the planet in the Antarctic, participating in an exercise called Operation Highjump. Of course, there are those who attach conspiracy theories to this as well or label it as intentional misinformation to hide Byrd’s real whereabouts.

How Stuff Works: Hollow Earth Theory and Nazi Conspiracy

NASA's Opinion on Hollow Earth

Surprisingly (or maybe not) proponents of Hollow Earth Theory frequently cite NASA photographs and video as proof of their cause. Many photos from space do show anomalous formations at the poles. Most can be explained away by science, but a few remain controversial. Some even claim NORAD satellites do not travel over the poles, due to the fact that they keep getting lost within the earth. Computer images (allegedly) support this claim, but of course, NASA does not.

If the earth were really hollow surely NASA would know about it. In fact, we’d have to think several world governments would know about it. And this opens the door to the final phase of any good tin-hat theory: Government conspiracy. Surely, given the technology we possess today, keeping the secret of hollow earth would be a massive cover-up, spanning numerous countries and governments.

If this is happening, the next question is: Why aren’t they making it public knowledge? Byrd's alleged account made inner earth sound like a pretty spiffy place, populated by enlightened beings who could surely teach us a thing or two. But is there more to the story? Could we be in danger, or under some kind of threat from the inhabitants of the inner earth?

The mind can dream up all kinds of wild scenarios from here, few of them good.

Where Is Proof of Hollow Earth?

Without more evidence than some questionable NASA images, a diary of a dead adventurer that may or may not be real, and a few interesting concepts, it’s tough to prove Hollow Earth Theory. It’s not like most of us have the means to travel to the poles and see what’s going on there. We have to take the word of governments, militaries and scientific organizations, and that will always breed conspiracy theories.

When it comes to Admiral Byrd’s diary we can assume one of several things is true: Maybe Byrd made up the story to gain fame. However, given the amazing feats he was really accomplishing, this seems unlikely.

Maybe the diary is a pure fabrication, devised by someone else for reasons known only to them. This clears Byrd’s name but makes us wonder who the real creator of the diary might be.

Third, maybe it’s true. Perhaps Byrd did travel to the inner earth, experience strange things and come back with a warning, only to have the government cover it up.

Could there be a race of beings living inside our planet, zipping around in flying saucers and withholding tomes of wisdom until our kind are ready to receive it? Could Admiral Byrd really have encountered them on his now-famed 1947 expedition?

Anything is possible.

Isn’t it?

Is the Earth hollow?

rocco on March 26, 2020:

i thought richard byrd travel to parallel universe not inner earth! because i know parallel universe do exist

dave schulz on January 16, 2020:

Been wanting to talk about this for some time. Yes I believe the earth and all the planets are hollow. It is a good chance the sasquatch are able to travel from the inside to the outside. Yes it is a good chance that is where some of the ufos are from. I believe Mr. Byrd was honest and so was his son. They met their death because of what they knew. Any astro traveler can find the truth. There are ancient caves that take you in and the poles are also a way into in earth. Take this as you will as this is part of my thought on the hollow earth. dave

John on January 14, 2020:

I believe Byrd went somewhere but I don't think it was inside the earth. I believe he travelled along a flat plane until he reached the civilization that he described. This story may have been altered to keep people thinking that we live on a globe. You see this limits our ability to think that we can travel anywhere (but up) The powers that be don't want you to know that there are possibilities beyond the poles. Which I believe is the only way mankind can go.

max on December 26, 2019:

DarthDominus81

The russian drill hole proves nothing. It is 12 km deep, the earth is about 63500 km in diameter. That means the drill hole is done 0,000378 percent of the distance towards the "core" of earth.

Farzin on December 15, 2019:

If a wormhole exists there to open a gate to another dimension it should be through earths magnetic power grid....it sounds quite possible to me....

Martin Shane GoldStein on November 14, 2019:

If truth is what is believed to be the truth, then what is the truth?

Susan Goodhue on June 11, 2019:

Time to take that young-adult modern-day classic “A Wrinkle in Time” off the shelf and read it again? Of course it is! Most modern physicists at least have open minds about the theory of worm holes and parallel universes. It’s time the general public opens up their thinking on this as well. I’m sure Admiral Byrd would have had no problem with it at all.

samename on April 24, 2019:

The earth's crust varies in thickness around certain areas that release volcanic lava and ash. Even so, there are area's where the crust is so thick that it is hard to imagine that the earth is hollow.

However,there is evidence of area's where there are hollow spaces such as caves.

DarthDominus81 on April 21, 2019:

No such crap. The inside of this planet cannot support life due to the conditions and extreme heat. The Kora Superdeep drill hole in Russia proves this.

manoj32 on April 04, 2019:

What is the real name of Earth? It requires no other name because it's the most important moon You may read or hear people using Luna for the Moon Terra, Gaia for the Earth, and Sol for the Sun, but in English-speaking countries, these are poetic terms, often seen in science fiction stories

Abenezer kefeni on August 16, 2018:

The volcanic eruption somehow gives clue about the possible morphology of Earth. Basically, todays earth structure is the result of geological modification which potentially induces/ creates various shape both within the inner earth on the surface.

For example, lava tubes and crater lakes are hollow to unknown and /or significant depth suggesting possible hollow portion of the earth that is accessible along the poles. Earth's degree of dynamicity is variable at different places.

Jeff W. on July 10, 2018:

Why doesn"t someone organize a trip and rent an ice cutter? Like a cruise with iinterested geusts, scientists, film docunentary reporters, highly trainef security personnel and take an adventure. Put this thing to rest.

Gayle E on August 06, 2017:

Jules Verne, a French novelist, wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864. The idea is not a new one.

Nancy Taylor on July 07, 2017:

I would like to thank who or whatever is responsible for the release of all of the information about the advanced races. I believe that I am a hybrid. I retain everybit of information that is out before me and i have a memory that extends far beyond my mortal lifespan. I feel released. Thankyou.

James69546 on May 13, 2017:

An adage of note? "Nothing is impossible? Highly improbable! But never impossible. I've read a limited amount on the "Middle earth Theories" and yet (is an amazing theory) I still remain skeptical. (Yes I know not another skeptic?) . My father used to lecture on UFO's ... and took a great interest in the Paranormal. An example(interesting theory if you could call it that) What is the fastest speed there is, and just how fast is that? The speed of thought? You think of a place to be! And you're there? Regardless of the distance? It is instantaneous? It would certainly out date the Speed of Light? As for middle earth, Hollow? I was "led to believe" the center of the earth is molten larva" Again, anything can be explained .... I was told way back in the mid, to late 50's, as we laid on our backs late evening. Staring up at the clear, star clustered sky. The Milky way, amazing. The odd shooting star would speed across the night, then peter out (make a wish before it dies out?) then there were "Distant lights"!! that traversed the heavens, so minute ..as though it were a star itself, but moved at rather fast speed. Usually from west to east? Never, East to west? then there were those that traveled from south to North? Never North to South. At an unusually fast speed probably 30 to 40 seconds to traverse the night sky before it disappeared. Never a vapor trail. We watched sometimes through binoculars, awkward needed a steady hand?? There are those that will try to explain, and ridicule what I and my brothers and sister saw, including my mother and father. I've always adopted the thought, Don't tell me what I saw, as not being real. Many explanations were thrown into the conversation, I will still hold my own firm beliefs, until proven otherwise So Middle Earth! that would be an interesting conversation. Did Captain Byrd actually fly across the north pole? I think I read once that he was doing geological studies. Checking Meteorological sites and recording data ... then his aircraft disappeared off radar and out of radio range? for a period of time. Not sure where I read that, it was a few years ago now, on the net. I could have that wrong. With recent ?? discoveries regarding what appears to be the remnants of building, structures, below the antarctic ice ... and deep at that. Technology is certainly throwing a few "cat among the pigeons" on a whole range of perceived Historical facts. Interesting, really very interesting. ..... James

chaseparker on February 12, 2017:

yup its possible .we just only see the 1/4 of the world .the 3/4 is still a mystery and other creatures has not yet discovered

Nadine May from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa on July 29, 2014:

This topic is so open for debate, but it's a fascinating idea. The first time I read about the hollow earth was in: Secret of the Ages: UFOs from Inside the Earth by Brinsley Le Poer Trench. He was a firm believer in flying saucers. According to Trench other book: 'The Sky People' he claimed that the north polar ice cap melted on Mars, and this caused the descendants of Adam and Eve to move to Earth and that many of the other characters from the Bible originally lived on Mars, and that they were experiment creations of extraterrestrials. When I read his books in the early eighties I could not share this with many people. they would just ridicule me for even reading such books. Interesting movie!

Alan from West Georgia on July 14, 2014:

Very interesting, I had never heard of this before. It seems to wildly fantastic to be true, but it is intriguing that the source was a seemingly honest person.

Luther Urswick (author) from USA on January 31, 2014:

Thanks Anthony! I've never seen this movie, but it could have been based on Hollow Earth Theory.

Anthony Isaac Wells on January 31, 2014:

This is very interesting! I just watch a movie called the Mole People made in 1956, could this be a first based on Admiral Byrd' diary. Also , could this be why Hollywood is hollywood?

Luther Urswick (author) from USA on April 22, 2013:

Whoa! That was one heck of an explanation for Hollow Earth, someonewhoknows, but I get what you mean, and I agree. Perhaps we have more exploring of Mars ahead of us than we know!

someonewhoknows from south and west of canada,north of ohio on April 22, 2013:

If, the theory that all planetary bodies are hollow - with the exception of fragments from planetary bodies that broke up for some reason. The creation or evolution of the planets and their suns are the result of spinning masses of gases that cooled over eons of time and always spinning due to gravitational forces such as the centripetal force that keeps moving inward as shown by the example of a string attached to a heavy object that is spinning outward against that force or object that keeps that object from falling inward as a direct result of that very same spinning motion the end result over time would logically be a mass that is hollow to the extent where the relatively lightest mass would be at the circumference and the heaviest mass at or near the center leaving a space in between the two masses as you might expect in a hollow earth or any other planet for that matter.

If,true than mars may have life inside more so than outside it's surface as well as all the planets we now consider uninhabitable.

Luther Urswick (author) from USA on December 04, 2012:

Thanks Jimagain. Glad you liked it!

Jim Henderson from Hattiesburg, Mississippi on December 04, 2012:

Great read; interesting association with Admiral Byrd and the hollow earth theory.

Luther Urswick (author) from USA on April 25, 2012:

Thanks mark. Interesting idea about the space/time continuum.

sparkster: I'm off to check out your hub. Thanks for reading!

Marc Hubs from United Kingdom on April 25, 2012:

Good hub and interesting theory, I have also written about this subject. The one book that provides remarkable information is Genesis For The New Space Age which was pointed out to me by fellow hubber Somethgblue.

markbennis on April 25, 2012:

This was a fascinating hub you have done here a real gem and I have thoroughly enjoyed the concept for a hollow earth theory. Although I am not sure for its existence but that’s because I haven’t really delved deep into its concepts, for sure maybe there is a portal of some kind?

All that energy being channelled in through the poles may have some anomalous effects on our space time continuum; all possibilities are on the table.

I wonder if these dame forces that are present could be a gateway to a parallel universe of earth on a different time line.

Admiral Richard Byrd and the fascinating story of his adventures, are they real? I am not sure either way as I would have to look deeper before saying so, but in saying that it is also very possible and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit for it being true.

Voted up and welcome to Hubpages.