Lessons from Travels: Aliens Like Deserts

by Carl Strang

This one’s for fun. Have you ever wondered why Aliens like deserts so much? It certainly seems to me that a disproportionate number of UFO sightings are reported from deserts. I have seen consequences of this on two continents. In Australia I took a bus tour to travel from Alice Springs to Darwin, rather than renting a car. This was the better choice, as the driver/guide knew the best stops. One of these was a roadside restaurant with an Aliens theme.

Little green men emerge from an angular transport. No doubt this sculpture commemorates an actual event.

The picnic area was lined with murals documenting the Aliens’ visit. This one’s my favorite:

Hold tight, mate!

In North America we have our own deserts, and our own Aliens. One of the more infamous associations is Area 51 in a remote corner of Nevada. When I did my driving tour of that state some years ago I just had to include the Extraterrestrial Highway in my itinerary.

As you can see, this is an official copyrighted designation.

This was the first road I ever encountered that literally vanished in the distance.

Roads can be made quite straight in deserts.

As I drove by this little herd, I could tell they were watching me intently.

Were they really cows? Or something else in disguise…

Midway along the road is the little town of Rachel, with its own roadside stop.

A slightly lower production value than its Australian counterpart, but charming and getting much less traffic. If I were an Alien I would stop here.

I also liked the rounder forms of the Nevada Aliens’ vehicles.

Everyone needs a tow now and then.

So, why do Aliens prefer deserts? Perhaps the more appropriate question is, why do desert humans attract Aliens?