Mysterious Circular Barren Patches In Africa - Fairy Circles

Fairy circles are circular bare patches of ground, typically found in desert stretching from Angola to South Africa. These circular patches ranging from 2 to 15 meters in diameter, occur amidst monospecific grassy vegetation. These circles have been studied since they were reported on in 1971. The controversy has been ongoing for years over the formation of these circular patches. 

Walter Tschinkel, a biologist at Florida State University, analyzed 4 years of satelite images of Namibia's NamibRand Nature Reserve since 2005 and concluded that these circles are under continuous development, with an estimated an average "lifespan" of 41 years. But he couldn't figure out what made these circles. Later, Norbert Juergens, a German biology professor at the University of Hamburg, has found evidence that these fairy circles are result of local ecosystem generated by the sand termite Psammotermes allocerus. But Juergens' research has not been universally accepted as cause of circles. 

Apart from the scientific reasons, the local people believes that these barren patches are said to have been caused by the gods, spirits and/or natural divinities. These fairy circles are used for agricultural use by local people.

Source : en.wikipedia.org