There are about 250 lakes in several countries world wide that claim to have lake (or loch) monsters. Giant unknown creatures who are only seldom seen. In the many years that such monsters have provided scientific excitement there has never once been any conclusive evidence on any of these lakes. Some such monsters are well known, their “names” usher excitement among those who believe that it might indeed be true and disbelief among skeptics. Names such as Nessie, Champ, Chessie, and Bessie. But none the less…the question remains, do such beasts exist?

The Lakes

Most of the lakes that such beasts are reported on are fairly good sized lakes (including a few of the Great Lakes of north America.) Additionally and probably more importantly they are deep lakes. Some seem to have a better history for the lake monster idea then others, but that doesn’t change the facts that people believe that there are monsters in them. Many of the lakes have a history with legends or mythology supporting the idea that there may indeed be monsters in the lake. In North America many such myths were held by the Native American tribes who lived near these lakes. In other countries the history goes back to other older (and wiser?) cultures. Although recorded sightings have only been happening since the 1800’s in many places, the Loch Ness for example has recorded sightings going back as far as the 500’s.

The Sightings

Many of the sightings world wide seem to have very similar descriptions. There seem to be two main “types” of descriptions. While there are always variances between written reports from the lakes, there is a general consensus on certain things. Comparing all of these reports allows one to get an image of a creature. Then comparing them from lake to lake allows us to hypothesize that we may be dealing with the same, or very similar creatures in many of these lakes.

The Sea Serpent Lake Monster

The most common description heard among the lake monster sightings is that of the sea serpent like lake monster. Many of these sightings see a long slender neck and a serpent like head. They say the beast is dark in color (the the actual color often varies from brown, black, green, and even dark rust or red). Some of them see a body that is roundish and flippers or webbed feet and a tail that is long and narrow. It would be easy enough to believe that many who report the sea serpent would not be seeing the body. The neck and head sound very much like a sea serpent. Adding a body and limbs of some sort makes it into something much more then a giant snake.

What could it be?

To me this seems like an interesting question. Scientists have debated for a long time about what this lake monster could be. I believe (and this really is all my opinion) that these descriptions are describing a plesiosaur. This is a dinosaur like creature that supposedly became extinct sixty or seventy million years ago. It has a long neck (though we don’t know and some scientist don’t believe that this neck could bend in such a way as to resemble the “photos” and such of lake monsters), roundish body, four flippers, and a narrow tail. There are many things about this creature that would mean that it either had to adapt in order to survive in the lakes for as long as it has or that we have had some things wrong about it. Of course there are several variations that fall under the title plesiosaur providing plenty of options for variations from lake to lake.

Long Narrow whale like creature

Other reports vary so much from that of the snake like creature that it seems extremely doubtful that it would indeed by the same type of creature. Many lakes report of lake monster of a completely different variety. This one is long, narrow, with a flat head, and is whale like. Often described as 25-30 feet in length.

What Could it be?

Often it is believed that these beasts are basilosaurus, a type of extincted (believed to be extinct) whale that supposedly died off about twenty million years ago. They come in a wide variety of shapes but are all rather narrow with broad heads and often with a mouth full of teeth. It has two large fins and two small (useless) fins in the back.

Others

These two descriptions and possible candidates cover most of the lake monsters. There a few out there who don’t fit into either category, but could very well be relatives of these lake monsters.

Time will tell…