UFOs have been a hot topic lately, gaining the attention of Congress, public figures, whistleblowers and, not surprisingly, countless online enthusiasts.
The buzz is understandable: unexplained lights and objects seem to appear in the skies across the United States. But which state has the highest number of sightings?
To answer this intriguing question, Newsweek has created a map of UFO hotspots across the country. The map is based on data from the National UFO Reporting Center, a Washington state-based nonprofit that has been collecting and analyzing UFO reports for decades.
Since 1995, the Center has documented a whopping 133,717 reported sightings in the US
Which state tops the list? The clear winner is California, with 16,444 reported sightings. This is followed by Florida with 8,408 observations, Washington state with 7,297 and Texas with 6,288.
At the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota has recorded just 278 sightings, while Washington DC trails with just 156.
California’s dominance in UFO sightings makes sense for several reasons. Being the most populous state in the US, there are obviously more people who may notice and report unusual phenomena.
Additionally, California is home to a significant number of US air bases, which could explain some of the sightings if they are in fact advanced government aircraft being mistaken for UFOs.
