The Loch Ness Monster is a lake-monster from Scottish folklore and later part of cryptozoology due to a number of supposed photos (now considered hoaxes), from which it gained its current status as a dinosaur.
This monster is named after its supposed haunting grounds in Loch Ness, a tidal loch in Scotland, as well as its surrounding rivers, becoming a major tourist attraction where it is often named "Nessie", it is one of the world's most famous cryptids alongside Bigfoot, the Yeti and Grey aliens.
History[]
Legends[]
Saint Columba[]
One of the oldest recurring legends of the Loch Ness Monster hails from at least 565 in which a folktale explores a mythical encounter with an extremely hostile version of the monster by the traveling Saint Columba.
According to the stories Saint Columba encountered locals (which he referred to as Picts) lamenting over a water-beast killing any who strayed near the loch.
Saint Columba sent one of his followers into the water to test the story and the monster came to attack, yet before the beast could maul his follower Saint Columba entered the water himself and with his divine powers struck the beast with such terror that it fled, never to be seen again.
Kelpie[]
(see the Kelpie of Loch Ness)
A radically different tale from what modern audiences have come to see in regards to Nessie is the folk tale of the Kelpie of Loch Ness, where the beast is depicted as a powerful and malevolent member of the water-demons known as Kelpies.
Modern Sightings[]
In recent times Nessie has become a "holy grail" for cryptozoologists and fringe scientists as well as a magnet for many tourists, who regularly flock to try and get evidence of the monster's existence.
Despite numerous extensive searches there has been no evidence of Nessie's existence however there have been countless hoaxes, indeed the modern depiction of Nessie as a dinosaur came from one such hoax.
In Popular Culture[]
Films[]
- Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster is a full feature length animation from 2004, and centers around the Highland Games taking place at the fictitious 'Blake Castle' (based loosely on Urquhart Castle), but being troubled by Nessie. Three separate fakes are revealed, but the real Nessie is strongly implied to still be there.
Television[]
- The Simpsons had an episode in which Mr Burns tried to capture Nessie, enlisting the help of Groundskeeper Willie and Professor Frink, eventually draining Loch Ness altogether (and flooding a nearby town in the process) in his efforts to find it. A fake is found in the empty lake, but the real Nessie then turns up, leading to Mr Burns' success in shipping Nessie to the USA, where it ends up working in a casino.
- In the Laff-A-lympics, Scooby is challenged to get a photo of Nessie.
- On The Scooby-Doo Show in the episode "A Highland Fling with a Monstrous Thing".