Devils Tower: the story behind the mysterious US national monument

Devils Tower: the story behind the mysterious UFO-sighting spot - Nature is fascinating in so many ways and it holds secrets that scientists have been trying to uncover for years. This is the case of Devils Tower, which is believed to have been formed around 50 million years ago. However, the place has a mythological and sacred meaning for the local indigenous people.

Click through this gallery to learn more about this US national monument!

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The beginning - Our trip starts with a sci-fi movie from 1977.

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Classic - 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' is one of Steven Spielberg's most iconic movies.

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind - In the movie, a group of people try to contact aliens who arrive on two ships, which land on a mysterious tower.

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Reality - But did you know the tower in the movie is real?

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Destination - Head to Wyoming, United States, to see this mysterious rock formation.

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Getting closer - As you gett closer, you can spot the huge monument.

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Devils Tower - This rock formation is over 200 m tall.

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Name - There are several different versions of how the name Devils Tower came about.

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Expedition - One of the theories says that the name was first given in 1875 during an expedition led by Richard Irving Dodge, and it stayed like that thanks to a typo.

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Native people - The other theory says that it was the region's native people who named the monument.

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Age - Scientists estimate the monument formed around 50 million years ago.

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Scientists' theory - Many scientists believe pressure from inside the Earth forced magma upwards, which cooled and resulted in this formation.

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Natives' theory - The indigenous people have another theory, though.

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Natives' theory - They believe the cracks on the rock were made by giant bears.

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Ferocious - According to their beliefs, it happened when bears chased after little girls who where playing near where the tower sits today.

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Mother Nature - Legend says one of the girls prayed so hard to be saved that the mountain formed, and the marks left on it came from the bears who tried to scale the rock formation.

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Stars - Still according to that belief, when the rock formation reached the sky, the girls became the star constellation known now as Pleiades.

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Sacred - Even now, at certain times of the year, the indigenous people perform their rituals there.

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Alien theory - However, UFO researchers also present a third theory.

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Landing spot - They believe the Devils Tower is sort of like an 'airport' for aliens.

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Fictional - Which was exactly what happened in Steven Spielberg's movie!

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Reality - But is it fiction or reality?

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Tourism - Whatever the truth, the monument has become a tourist attraction and it is a big spot for rock climbers.

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Climbing - Records show the first climbing attempt took place in 1893.

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Adventure - But not everyone can make it to the summit!

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View - However, the view from the top of Devils Tower is worth it.

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Historic - Devils Tower was the United States' first National Monument.

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Inauguration - The monument was inaugurated in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

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Challenge - Would you be brave enough to visit the Devils Tower?!

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