Caught on Camera: Are UFOs Hiding in Volcanoes?

Cristina Gomez
May 21
3 min read

Updated: Jul 25

A compelling pattern has emerged across the globe connecting UFOs with volcanic activity. This phenomenon, documented in multiple countries through witness testimonials and video evidence, raises profound questions about why these mysterious craft appear to be drawn to Earth’s most powerful geological features.

The correlation first gained mainstream attention following Kenneth Arnold’s historic 1947 sighting near Mount Rainier in Washington State — an encounter that introduced the term “flying saucer” into popular vocabulary. Arnold reported nine craft moving at approximately 1,200 miles per hour between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, at speeds far beyond the technological capabilities of the era. Significantly, this inaugural modern UFO sighting occurred in a region known for its volcanic activity, establishing a pattern that would be reinforced repeatedly in subsequent decades.

Mexico has emerged as a particularly active zone for volcanic UFO activity, with Popocatépetl becoming world-renowned for regular sightings captured on dedicated monitoring cameras. Numerous videos have documented cigar-shaped, cylindrical, and disc-like objects moving near or directly entering the volcano’s crater. A notable 2012 incident, covered extensively by Mexican media outlets, showed what analysts described as a metallic object plunging into Popocatépetl without disturbing the surrounding smoke and ash — behavior inconsistent with conventional aircraft. Unlike many countries where UFO phenomena are treated dismissively, Mexican news organizations have approached these sightings with serious journalistic inquiry, regularly consulting experts and avoiding sensationalism.

Popocatépetl 2012 screen shot of UFO video captured — Popocatépetl 2012 screen shot of video captured

The phenomenon extends well beyond Mexico. A 2017 Yellowstone National Park incident captured by a park employee shows a bright, metallic object moving in distinctive patterns above the caldera. Meanwhile, Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji has accumulated its own catalog of unexplained aerial phenomena, with sufficient frequency that Japanese parliamentarians recently formed a specialized UFO study group to investigate these occurrences. This political development signals growing international recognition of the phenomenon’s significance, particularly its connection to volcanic sites.

A recent academic study from Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program and Montana Technological University has introduced the provocative “cryptoterrestrial” hypothesis — suggesting these phenomena might be attributed to an advanced civilization existing covertly beneath Earth’s surface. The researchers describe these potential entities as remnants of a technologically sophisticated ancient human civilization that survived a catastrophic event, possibly continuing to exist within volcanic structures or deep oceanic regions. This academic consideration of underground intelligent presence correlates with intriguing historical testimonies, including Shirley Wright’s 1993 claim that Albert Einstein’s examination of biological entities from the purported 1947 Roswell crash revealed beings described as “an advanced form” of humans residing underground on Earth.

Shirley Wright, Einstein's assistant — Shirley Wright

These documented encounters across multiple continents have led researchers to propose several explanations for the volcano-UFO connection. Some suggest these craft may be monitoring, harvesting or utilizing geothermal energy. Others theorize that volcanic structures might serve as concealed entrances to underground facilities or tunnel networks, providing discreet access points protected by extreme conditions that deter human exploration. The consistent behavior of these objects — entering volcanic openings without disturbing ash or smoke, similar to reported frictionless water entries elsewhere — suggests technological capabilities that manipulate physical forces in ways currently beyond human science.

Perhaps most intriguing is the emergence of a new volcanic island in Tonga since 2022, which continues growing in size. This developing landmass raises the possibility that similar UFO activity might be occurring there unobserved due to its remote location — a fascinating consideration given the documented pattern of these phenomena at established volcanic sites worldwide. As monitoring technology improves and institutional interest grows, the relationship between volcanic activity and unexplained aerial phenomena may provide valuable insights into both geological processes and the persistent mystery of unidentified aerial phenomena that continues to challenge conventional understanding of our world.