Google Earth has captured a very sinister sight by a lake in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic. In a remote corner of the land-locked country, there is a chilling symbol visible. On a piece of land jutting out into the lake is a pentagram – a five-pointed star. The symbol is very precisely drawn into the earth with impressively straight lines and is surrounded by a circle.
Measuring roughly 1,200 feet, the large pointed symbol is on a deserted patch of grass, with the closest area being the city of Lisakovsk.
But there’s much more to the sign on Google Earth than at first meets the eye.
The pentagram has become heavily associated with the devil and evil practices.
It has become linked with Wiccans and other cultures – in the late 1990s, schools in the US sought to stop students from displaying the symbol on clothes or jewellery due to the perceived associations with Satanism and occultism.
So is there a sinister explanation to the symbol and why it was carved into the earth in Kazakhstan?
Conspiracy theorists have certainly come forward to claim the site is linked with devil worship.
Indeed, Website Vigilant Citizen claimed that, in 2013, if Google Maps users zoomed in two locations would be visible, one called Adam and another Lucifer. However, this is no longer the case.
Despite what many people have speculated, the explanation for the symbol is far more mundane, an archaeologist once revealed.
Emma Usmanova an archaeologist who works in the area explained it was probably made in the Soviet era, using the U.S.S.R. star symbol.
She told LiveScience: “It is the outline of a park made in the form of a star.”
A star was a popular symbol during the Soviet era and was often used for decoration on building facades, flags and monuments.
What’s more, the shape of the star from above has become more distinct than it was originally intended as the pentagram is marked by roadways which are lined with trees.
Some reviewers of the area near the city of Lisakovsk have poked fun at the alleged devil link.
One user wrote: “I loved the lamb sacrifice and I would love to come again.”
Another wrote: “Comfortable altars, relaxing sounds of chanting, but the morning breakfast from last night’s sacrifices could use some salt.”
Google has captured many fascinating sights from its aerial view – such as this heart-shaped lake in Dubai on Google Earth.