What is a Gravity Hill?

An example of a gravity hill found in Kashmir, India.
An example of a gravity hill found in Kashmir, India.

Many people around the world are unaware of the interesting phenomenon known to us as gravity hill or gravity road. The term gravity hill or magnetic hill is used to refer to a place where people experience a strange phenomenon that makes their vehicles, liquids, and rolling objects start rolling uphill, thereby defying gravity and the laws of physics. Such hills and roads have long been perceived as marvellous, mysterious, or even haunted.

If you know of a gravity hill, you will also be aware of the many legends and mythical stories associated with it. There are hundreds of gravity hills and gravity roads around the globe from Australia to the Americas.

Gravity Hills Around the World

  • Bowen Mountain, New South Wales – Australia
  • Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais – Brazil
  • Oshawa, Ontario – Canada
  • Gansu – China
  • Paphos – Cyprus
  • Moravská Třebová - Czech Republic
  • El Polo Magnético - Dominican Republic
  • Route Magique – France
  • Road L3053 – Germany
  • Paso Misterioso - Guatemala
  • Magnetic Hill, Leh - India
  • Limpakuwus - Indonesia
  • Aricca's Downhill - Italy
  • Kyamwilu - Kenya
  • Gharyan - Libya
  • Kimanis–Keningau Highway - Malaysia
  • Acultzingo, Veracruz - Maxico
  • Wadi-Al-Jinn - Saudi Arabia
  • Dokebi Road - South Korea
  • Harborne Walkway, Harborne - England
  • 1054 E. Loma Alta Dr. Altadena, California - United States

Research and Explanation

Scientists, physicists, and researchers have studied to acquire answers about how it is possible for gravity to be defied and the laws of physics to be challenged in these places. In the beginning, some of them assumed that it happens due to magnetic poles of the Earth. However, they soon found out some similarities among all of these gravity hills. They were successful in concluding logical and realistic reasoning for gravity hills:

  • Researchers found out that there were no anti-gravity or upward movements on these places at all. They concluded that this phenomenon is a pure optical illusion. This conclusion was based upon thorough inspection of the similarities among all the gravity hills that exist.
  • The most prominent similarity among most of these places was that there was no horizon line to help people’s minds determine accurate positioning of that area. To put it simply, a straight horizon was not obstructed in all directions.
  • Another interesting common feature was that in spite of two uphill sides along the road, the areas were surrounded by downhill slopes. Scientists determined that even the trees in these areas coordinated with the downhill slop to make the most out of sunlight.
  • To add to and complete the illusion, there were no buildings and infrastructure around these spots that could have helped in determining the right angles and dimensions.

Conclusion

To conclude, all of these elements combined together create an optical illusion where uphill seems downhill and downhill seems uphill. If you visit any such places, do not forget to carry your GPS devices or a traditional level with you to ensure you understand what you are seeing.

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