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The mystery of Magnetic Hill in Canada - You have to see it to believe it!
Updated: Jun 17, 2024
Magnetic Hill is located on the outskirts of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. You basically roll 'up' a hill IN REVERSE with your car in NEUTRAL. Yes, you did read that right! We discovered it by chance while on a road trip to Prince Edward Island and were completely dumbfounded by the experience!
There are many activities at Magnetic Hill, but the main star attraction is the apparent 'optical illusion' it creates. When you drive your vehicle to a specific starting point (the white pole) on the road and put it in neutral, it appears to roll uphill, seemingly defying gravity. In reality, the road is sloping downwards, but the surrounding landscape creates an optical illusion that tricks the eyes into perceiving the opposite. All fair and well them, but how does it trick a camera too?
Read on for more on this strange mind boggling phenomenon. Plus check out our video and see if you can figure out this bizarre place. We couldn't!
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The discovery of Magnetic Hill
The history of Magnetic Hill is shrouded in local lore and anecdotes, with its origins dating back to the early 20th century. While the exact beginnings of the (apparent) optical illusion are not entirely clear, the phenomenon has become an integral part of the area's cultural heritage and has captured the curiosity of locals and tourists for decades.
One of the earliest documented instances of the Magnetic Hill's peculiar properties dates back to the 1930s. At that time, the hill was little more than a dirt road, and local farmers noticed that when they parked their vehicles on the slope, they appeared to move uphill when in neutral. Intrigued by this strange occurrence, they began sharing the experience with others, and the legend of Magnetic Hill started to spread.
The name "Magnetic Hill" itself is somewhat of a misnomer, as the phenomenon has apparently been 'proved' to have nothing to do with magnetism. Instead, it is an optical illusion caused by the landscape's unique configuration. The surrounding topography, such as the layout of the road, the hills, and the trees, create a visual perception that tricks the brain into interpreting the downhill slope as an uphill one.
Over time, as word of the intriguing phenomenon spread, the site attracted more attention, and it soon became a popular destination for curious travelers. Local entrepreneurs recognized the tourism potential and began promoting Magnetic Hill as a must-visit attraction. Infrastructure improvements were made to accommodate the increasing number of visitors, including better roads, signage, and facilities.
In the 1970s, the local authorities established a permanent site for Magnetic Hill, including designated parking spots and viewing areas. As its popularity continued to grow, additional tourist attractions, such as the Magnetic Hill Zoo, were developed nearby, further enhancing the area's appeal as a family-friendly destination.
Today, Magnetic Hill remains a significant tourist attraction in New Brunswick and Canada as a whole. It continues to captivate visitors with its mysterious optical illusion, offering a unique experience that challenges perceptions and defies the laws of gravity – at least in the eyes of the beholder. Whether you're a skeptic seeking to unravel the illusion's secrets or someone simply looking for a fun and mind-bending experience, Magnetic Hill continues to welcome curious travelers from around the world.
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Check out the video below... can you figure it out?
Magnetic Hill is honestly one of the strangest places we have ever visited. Even though we had read about it online just before we got there we were not quite sure what to expect. We drove over to the brow of the hill and the attendant told us to drive to a white marker pole at the 'bottom' of the hill on the left. It was there that we were to put our car in neutral and let nature do the rest... time to be bamboozled!
Magnetic Hill has been amazing locals for two centuries and has been puzzling visitors and scientists from around the world for almost that long too. It seems to defy the natural order of things, and in terms of illusions it is up there with the very best. This doesn't just happen with cars either, you can witness the same thing with water and even a ball! This surreal occurrence literally just doesn't seem possible.
Are there other Gravity Hills?
Although arguably the most popular, Moncton's Magnetic Hill in Canada is not the only so called 'gravity hill' in the world. In fact they have been found in 29 countries, with over 40 in the United States alone.
Notable examples of gravity hills can also be found in countries such as India, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, China, New Zealand, Scotland, and Ireland. These mysterious sites continue to attract curious travelers seeking to experience the wonder of seemingly defying the laws of gravity.
Find a full list of known gravity hills here.
Gravity Hills 'explained'
Magnetic, gravitational, other worldly... just what does cause this? Cue Japanese scientist Kokichi Sugihara from the Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Sciences. He won an award in 2010 for successfully building a model to demonstrate this freak illusion of nature.
It is indeed optical; something to do with the way our brains see the steeper hill up ahead and assume the road beneath our feet is either level or downhill. Couple that with the natural landscape curvature and viola, we seem as though we are defying gravity. We get it, but then how does that account for looking behind us and watching the car reverse 'up'?
Well according to further studies, all of the world's gravity hills have one thing in common, in that the horizon is either 'curved' or 'obstructed' from view. This is a crucial aspect of the phenomenon as horizons provide our brains with a very useful reference point when we're trying to judge the slope of a surface. A study published in Psychological Science in 2003 found that false horizon lines can be deceiving to observers perceiving landscapes.
Without a true horizon in sight, objects such as trees and walls, which our eyes use as visual points to determine perpendicularity, can trick the mind. If these objects are leaning, even ever-so-slightly, they can make us think we are looking at a downward slope, when in fact it may actually be a flat or rising surface. As a result, anything you place on the surface, be it a ball, a stream of water, or a even a car, it appears to fight the flow of gravity and travel uphill.
How to get to Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill is easily accessible by car, and it's the most convenient mode of transportation to reach the attraction. If you're coming from Moncton city center, head northwest on Mountain Road (Route 126). Follow the signs for Magnetic Hill Zoo, which is located next to Magnetic Hill.
If you don't have a car, you can also take a taxi or use a rideshare service to reach Magnetic Hill.
Once you reach the Magnetic Hill area, you'll find parking spaces and designated viewing areas where you can experience the intriguing optical illusion. Additionally, there are other attractions nearby, such as the aforementioned Magnetic Hill Zoo and various entertainment and food facilities, making it a great place to spend some time with family and friends.
Admission Prices and Opening Times
Magnetic Hill is open from 8am to 7pm and the entrance fee is $5 CAD. Entry fees and times vary for the park's other attractions. Find out more information here.
Our final thought
To be perfectly honest, the explanation doesn't really make sense when you watch the video back. Does a lack of 'horizon' trick technology too? We aren't necessarily saying that there is no gravity here. Or that there is something more sinister going on. But with all due respect to the science having witnessed this first hand we just aren't convinced... are you?
Have you been to Magnetic Hill in Canada, or one elsewhere in the world? We would love to hear about your experience, or indeed answer any questions you may have before visiting one. Feel free to reach out in the comments!
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