Since 565, there have been records of the Loch Ness Monster. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Loch Ness MonsterOne of the most famous mysterious creatures in Scottish folklore, the Loch Ness Monster is said to lurk in Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Loch Ness is the second largest and deepest lake in Scotland, with an average depth of 200 meters and a maximum depth of 230 meters. Due to the low temperature all year round, the lake water contains a large amount of floating algae and peat, resulting in very low underwater visibility.
The Loch Ness Monster is often described as being large, with a long neck and one or more humps protruding from the water. Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster have spanned nearly a century, and there have been more than 1,000 sightings. However, scientists have conducted multiple investigations using side-scan sonar scans and submersible detectors, but have found no conclusive evidence. Some researchers think the water monster could just be a giant eel or another common species?
South African tourist videos
South African tourist GE Taylor shot a three-minute video on Loch Ness, allegedly recording an unidentified object. The footage was later captured by British zoologist Maurice Burton, who published a single frame in his 1961 book. Disappointingly, analysis concluded that it was probably just a floating object. To this day, the original material of the film has not been made public, leaving many suspense.
Photos by Peter McNab
Peter MacNab took a photo at Urquhart Castle, which showed what appeared to be two long black humps on the lake. The photo shocked the public at the time, and researchers later suggested that these humps might be just three. Wave effect left by a fishing boat.
Mysterious contrail captured by aviation engineer
Aeronautical engineer Tim Dinsdale filmed a hump-like object trailing across Loch Ness on April 23, 1960. Initially, the footage was thought to only capture a ship. It was not until the 1993 documentary “The Discovery of Loch Ness” produced by Discovery Communications that through the analysis of digital enhancement technology, it was discovered that a vague shadow appeared in the film, which seemed to be the back half of some kind of creature. This discovery was later It also triggered speculation about the existence of water monsters.
Photography of laboratory technician
On May 26, 2007, laboratory technician Gordon Holmes captured footage claiming to have documented the Loch Ness Monster. However, analysis by marine biologists at the Loch Ness Center in Drumnadrochit suggested it was more likely to be an otter, seal or water bird. But the speed and shape of the object in the film have led supporters to believe it could be some kind of creature that has yet to be discovered.
Does the Loch Ness Monster really exist? Recent new interpretations
Whether the Loch Ness Monster is real or not has always been a controversial topic. In August 2011, a captain used sonar to photograph an object approximately 4.9 feet wide in Loch Ness, which continued to follow the ship for several minutes. However, after a year of research, scientists discovered that this was actually an algal bloom in the lake. In May 2019, a report stated that sightings of the Loch Ness Monster were likely caused by giant European eels. Researchers found no traces of Greenland sharks or plesiosaurs in DNA samples from Loch Ness, further supporting the hypothesis that the monster is actually just a giant eel.
Recently, this topic has received a new interpretation. Adrian Shane, a member of the Royal Geographical Society and founder of the Loch Ness Project, has studied the Loch Ness monster for more than 50 years. He proposed that the so-called “water monster” is actually a misjudgment caused by swans and other water birds. Shane explained that the calm lake surface can easily make people lose their sense of distance, thereby misjudging the size of swans or other water birds, and mistaking the Loch Ness Monster for a “long-necked creature.”
Finnish photographer Tomi Venienpa agreed with Shane’s point of view with actual photos. He compared the silhouettes of swans he had taken in the past with the traditional images of water monsters, and found that they were strikingly similar! In addition, the “hump” image of the Loch Ness Monster may be the water ripples left by ships after sailing. Other animals such as cormorants and mergansers are also thought to be possible sources of the sightings. Whether it is the aforementioned eels, swans or other animals, the legend of the Loch Ness Monster has been the center of countless explorations and speculations over hundreds of years, and its true identity remains a mystery that people talk about to this day.
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