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Sailors are afraid of the doldrums, because it is an area around the Equator with little and often no wind. Sailors with sail-powered ships were often trapped there for days or weeks on end because there was no wind. This means that the sailors were using their provisions, without knowing how long they would be there.

Another reason why this area is scary is that because there is often no wind, there are also no swells, which makes the water almost like a mirror, reflecting the clouds. On a moonless, cloudless night, this gave the impression of floating in space - an eerie feeling for the mostly superstitious sailors. Lastly, inactivity and boredom probably brought on squabbles and unrest, which made the doldrums all in all not the place to be for a sailor.

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