With great white sharks, much has been uncovered, but one particular migratory pattern left scientists puzzled.
For reasons not entirely clear, numerous great white sharks gather in a specific part of the Pacific Ocean.
Rather than just a small area, this is a vast region with a radius of about 160 miles, situated roughly halfway between Baja California and Hawaii.
Scientists have interestingly named this area the White Shark Café.
This name was coined in 2002 by researchers at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station after analyzing data from several tagged sharks.
In the January 3, 2002 issue of the journal Nature, they reported that three out of four tagged sharks traveled to the Café within six months of being tagged in California.
This was particularly baffling, as the region was previously considered a barren oceanic desert for sharks.
However, in 2018, it was revealed that this area is rich in life and possesses a thriving ecosystem.
This finding strengthened the theory that sharks visit this location for its abundant food sources, while some suggest it might also serve as a mating ground.
The phenomenon of the shark café has captured the attention of social media and Reddit users, who offered their own theories and humorous takes on why sharks gather there.
One user commented: “These sharks are probably attracted to the unusually high frequency hum being emitted by the crashed UFO on the seabed at this location.
“Reddit has taught me over the years that there’s usually a simple, alien related, explanation.”
Another user quipped: “Orcas: so, umm, I forget, where is this again?”
Others added: “Annual shark orgy, nothing to worry about.”
And another asked: “So they’re just all out there chilling together and s***? Like are sharks pals when they see each other, or do they fight?”
Regardless of the reason for their gathering, the shark café seems like an appealing spot for a meal.