Mysterious tower seen at US' Area 51 via Google Earth sparks Azkaban-alien tech theories

A mysterious triangular tower has been discovered at the US' highly secretive Area 51 facility on Google Earth, prompting a wave of speculation on social media, with some users suggesting it could be the wizard prison "Azkaban" from JK Rowling's Harry Potter books while others calling it “alien technology.” Area 51 isn't new to such speculation, as the highly-classified 2.3 million-acre US Air Force base in Nevada has long been at the center of theories involving extraterrestrial life and alien conspiracies.

The unusual structure, which casts a long shadow, was found on Google Maps by entering the coordinates 37°14’46.5"N 115°49’24.0"W. The sighting left many online users puzzled and gave rise to intense speculation about the purpose of the installation at Area 51.

“Obviously, alien technology. It pops out when the Earth is done," commented a social media user, while another added, “Azkaban is real?". A user on Facebook said, “A Monolith just like in 2001 a Space Odyssey." “It’s where the aliens test their various white powders," a second user said.

Another structure that sparked alien theories earlier this year was a mountain in Antarctica that was hidden beneath layers of snow. It captured imaginations worldwide due to its uncanny resemblance to an ancient Egyptian pyramid. But the natural marvel owes its unique shape to erosion rather than human or alien intervention.

The unnamed mountain, standing about 4,150 feet tall, lies in the southern Ellsworth Mountains. Its striking pyramid-like form first gained attention in 2016 when images went viral online. Located near the Patriot Hills, where climate scientists often work, this mountain has likely been known to researchers for years, according to Mauri Pelto, an environmental science professor at Nichols College.