Conspiracy theorists, start your engines: On the windblown steppes of
central Asia, in an isolated corner of Kazakhstan, there's a large
pentagram etched into Earth's surface. And now an archaeologist has
revealed the source of the mysterious structure.
The five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, located on the southern shore of the Upper Tobol Reservoir, shows up vividly on Google Maps.
There are almost no other signs of human habitation in the area; the
closest settlement is the city of Lisakovsk, about 12 miles (20
kilometers) to the east.
The region surrounding Lisakovsk is riddled with ancient archaeological ruins. Bronze Age settlements, cemeteries and burial grounds — many of which have yet to be explored — dot the windswept landscape.
What
is this bizarre symbol, measuring roughly 1,200 feet (366 meters) in
diameter, doing on the side of a desolate lake in northern Kazakhstan?
Naturally, many online comments have already linked the site with devil
worship, nefarious religious sects or denizens of the underworld.
It
certainly doesn't help that, upon zooming into the center of the
pentagram, viewers will see two places highlighted by previous visitors
to Google Maps: One spot is called Adam, the other, Lucifer — a name
often linked to Satan.
