The legend of the Loch Ness Monster sprung to mind when I read the prompt by@JonicaBradley to write about Monsters, Myths and Legends.
Loch Ness is a beautiful place and is the second deepest Loch in Scotland. At its deepest point it has a depth 230 metres.
The Loch Ness Monster was first sighted in 565 AD when it is recorded that 'Nessie' (as the monster is commonly known), tried to swallow a local farmer, and looked like a huge sea creature.
Thankfully 'Nessie' was unsuccessful. St Columbia witnessed the incident and intervened by commanding the monster to 'go back' and the monster obeyed.
The legend lives on till this day and began to take off in a big way in 1933 shortly after a road alongside the lake was finished, which gave people a clear view of Loch Ness.
In April of that year a couple reported seeing an enormous animal which they described as looking like a prehistoric monster. The monster is said to have crossed their path on the road before it dived back into the loch.
This incident was recorded in a scottish newspaper.
To me the description which is given of 'Nessie' appears to be very much like that of a plesiosaur, a sea dinasour which is believed to be extinct.
Could it be that some have survived and are living in the loch.
Maybe there could even be a family of these living there and they have been able to hide among the vast crevices and caves which are at the bottom of the deep loch, maybe they live down there and only occasionally need to surface to get some air.
Many people who have been out fishing in small boats have come back to shore terrified at what they say they have seen in the loch, the reports are numerous and the descriptions are very similar, a scaly creature with a long neck, fins and a tail, which fits the description of a plesiosaur perfectly. The fishermen report seeing a brief glance before the monster disappears.
The loch is so huge that there must be many places that 'Nessie' could hide.
Over the years many people have captured pictures of 'Nessie', some are known to be fakes, but others are still unexplained.
In 1987 a high tech mission was launched to go and solve the mystery of 'Nessie' once and for all. Many boats equiped with sonar were sent out onto the loch to search for 'Nessie' however their search proved to be inconclusive.
In September 2020 however using a more sophisticated method of sonar, an image that merited further investigation was recorded.
The manufactures of the equipment analysed the images and concluded that it appeared to be a single amimate object between 15 and 20 feet long.
Some say that the monster could be an oversized eel, though I don't think I have ever seen an eel as long as 20 feet.
Some say that it is only a myth and there is no monster living in Loch Ness.
The legend of 'Nessie' attracts many tourists to Scotland every year, all keen to see if they can catch a glimpse, which is very good for the local economy, so the local shops, resturants and hotels are keen to keep the legend of 'Nessie' alive.
It is also said that in order to see 'Nessie' you have to believe that the monster is real. 'Nessie' is a magical creature who only appears to those who believe.
Do you think that 'Nessie' is real, or is there some other explanation I wonder?
The Legend of The Loch Ness Monster is certianly a mystery, maybe one day we will know the answer.
For now the Legend is well and truly alive and the search for 'Nessie' goes on.
Article is my own
Pictures courtesy of pixabay
I have been to Loch Ness many times and never seen her. Nor have I seen our other creature Morag. I am sure they will let us see themselves if they so want.