The monster of Loch Ness
High in the north, in the Scottish Highlands, lies Loch Ness, the lake where the famous monster is said to live. For centuries the legend has been circulating around this huge creature, but there is still no evidence of its existence.
Loch Ness and his monster
Loch Ness is the second largest lake in Scotland and is characterised by its unusual depth of up to 230 metres. There are numerous caves at the bottom of the lake. Sounds like the best conditions for a sea monster.
Loch Ness
The first account of a creature living in Loch Ness dates back to 565 and was written by an Irish priest. In the centuries that followed, there were isolated sightings of an animal near the lake or in the hole. After a panoramic road was built around Loch Ness in 1933 and the view of the lake became much clearer, there were more reports about Nessie. The first photo was taken in 1934. Since then the Loch Ness monster has been known all over the world.
Nessie is usually described as a plesiosaur: thick body, long neck with small head and fins. From time to time the monster is also seen as a giant snake. Nessie is said to be up to 20 meters long and to rise out of the water with her neck or humpback.
Evidence against Nessie
Researchers and scientists usually describe the sightings of the Loch Ness monster as false reports. The photos now show that these are montages (with homemade monsters), other animals or tree trunks.
The mere assumption that Nessie is a descendant or survivor of the plesiosaurs to which she is said to have similarities is very unlikely. For one of these specimens to be seen over a longer period of time, a larger colony of the animals would have to live in Loch Ness – but the lake is too small and does not provide enough food. Loch Ness is also too cold for these animals. As a reptile, Nessie would also have to appear regularly to catch its breath. But then there would have been much more than the sightings and the existence would probably not be controversial anymore.
Another argument against the existence of Nessie is that Loch Ness has already been extensively studied and researched. If such an animal would live in the water, it would most probably have been discovered by now.
But what about the eyewitnesses and reports that claim to have seen a monster in the lake? These sightings can be explained with other animals like seals and big fishes, wooden trunks and also mirages or sensory illusions. After the myth about the monster in the lake was first set in the world, it probably doesn't take much more for imaginative humans to discover such a creature in waveforms.
The search continues!
For the Scots, Nessie has long since become a dear companion who also stimulates tourism. Numerous visitors come to Loch Ness every year to discover the monster and perhaps even to unravel the mystery. The Scots are so fond of their monster that a hunt for Nessie is even forbidden – should it still be found. And even though there is no evidence of its existence yet, the search for the monster continues with new methods. If it is not found, it is at least a beautiful legend that attracts many tourists to the Highlands and produces sweet plush animals.
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