Time: September 1971 Location: Lake Cote, Costa Rica This photo was reportedly taken in 1971 during an aerial mapping survey over Lake Cote in Costa Rica by the National Geographic Institute of Costa Rica. What I find interesting is that it doesn’t feel like the usual blurry witness photo. It came from an official aerial survey context, which makes it harder to dismiss casually. I’m also curious how people interpret older cases like this now that some discussions are shifting from “extraterre...

On September 4, 1971, the Costa Rican National Geographic Institute was taking aerial photos from 10,000 feet of Lake Cote, the small body of water that would later become the larger Lake Arenal, as part of preliminary studies for the future hydroelectric project. The study was funded by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to determine water sources in the area for their planned hydroelectric project. Photographer Sergio Loaiza, along with Costa Ricans Juan Bravo and Francisco Reyes,...