Say Hello to Nessie
Say Hello to Nessie First modern sighting of the Loch Ness Monster The way it was… Everybody always wonders about those things that go bump in the night. Sure, it’s probably just the wind, or the cat, or some other logical explanation. But you never really know… Perhaps that is why Saint Columba, an Irish priest, received so much attention in 565 AD when he claimed to have seen a large, half-dinosaur, half-snake, half-fish like creature floating around in Loch Ness. Located in Scotland, Loch Ness is over twenty miles in length, and nearly one mile wide. With depths at over 700 feet, the lake is the deepest and among the largest in Great Britain. While there was no hard evidence to back up Saint Columba’s claim, it intrigued those familiar with the lake. Soon, others claimed to have seen a similar water monster living in Loch Ness or near the shore. Of course, it’s not at all uncommon for areas and towns to have there own local folklore. In North America, hikers and campers claim to have seen the Sasquatch (better known as “Bigfoot”). In the Himalayas, a similar bigfoot monster has been spotted, referred to as “Yeti,” or the “Abominable Snowman.” At Lake Okagagon, in Canada, residents claim to house another water monster: “Ogopogo.” Most of these sightings usually fall a few steps short of containing absolute proof and are regarded by the rest of the world as little more than a story to tell around the campfire. In the early 1900’s, the legend of the “Loch Ness Monster” was known throughout Scotland and much of Great Britain. For the most part, however, it was just another local legend. That is until April 1933, when Mrs. Aldie Mackay and her husband John were traveling on a road that bordered Loch Ness. Mrs. Mackay saw a disturbance in the water out of the corner of her eye. Thinking that it was probably something along the lines of two ducks fighting, she turned to have a look. She didn’t see any ducks. What Happened Next… In April 1933, Mrs. Aldie Mackay looks out onto Loch Ness in Scotland to see a large creature rolling and diving in the water. This sighting begins an international fascination with the “Loch Ness Monster.”
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How it changed history… On May 2, 1933, the Inverness Courier newspaper decided to run a story describing Mrs. Mackay’s strange sighting. This unknown animal living in Loch Ness quickly caught everyone’s interest. In the year following the story, several more people reported that they had seen a water monster swimming and diving, and a distinct photograph was even taken in 1934. Before long, it seemed that everyone who lived around the lake, or even visited, had caught a quick glimpse of “Nessie” (as the Loch Ness Monster was affectionately known). Tourism skyrocketed and rumors spread throughout the world. Expedition teams were sent to patrol the lake, hoping to find the definite answer. From the 1930s through the 1960s several individuals and groups monitored the lake, standing lookout with camera in hand. Unfortunately, these men really didn’t help in answering any questions. Some of them walked away convinced it was all a hoax, while others reported to have unmistakably seen the Loch Ness Monster. There were photographs, of course, though most were questionable (the 1934 photograph still remained the most convincing evidence). Throughout the century, the world questioned the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, and every person seemed to have a different opinion. As technology improved, sonar readings and aerial photographs were taken around the lake, though no strange creature was ever detected. Another blow for the believers came in 1994, when the famous 1934 photograph was proven to be a hoax.
Imaginary Animals Are you familiar with any of these made-up creatures?
Centaur
Dragon
Griffin
Jackalope
A creature with the upper half of a human & the body of a horse
A reptile-like creature with scaly skin, wings, & ability to breath fire
An animal with the body of a lion with the head & wings of an eagle
A cross between a jackrabbit & an antelope
Kraken
Pegasus
Sphinx
Unicorn
A gargantuan, octopuslike sea monster
A winged horse from Greek mythology
An Egyptian creature with A horse with a single the body of a lion & the horn, billy-goat beard, & head of a man a lion’s tale
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How it changed history… On May 2, 1933, the Inverness Courier newspaper decided to run a story describing Mrs. Mackay’s strange sighting. This unknown animal living in Loch Ness quickly caught everyone’s interest. In the year following the story, several more people reported that they had seen a water monster swimming and diving, and a distinct photograph was even taken in 1934. Before long, it seemed that everyone who lived around the lake, or even visited, had caught a quick glimpse of “Nessie” (as the Loch Ness Monster was affectionately known). Tourism skyrocketed and rumors spread throughout the world. Expedition teams were sent to patrol the lake, hoping to find the definite answer. From the 1930s through the 1960s several individuals and groups monitored the lake, standing lookout with camera in hand. Unfortunately, these men really didn’t help in answering any questions. Some of them walked away convinced it was all a hoax, while others reported to have unmistakably seen the Loch Ness Monster. There were photographs, of course, though most were questionable (the 1934 photograph still remained the most convincing evidence). Throughout the century, the world questioned the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, and every person seemed to have a different opinion. As technology improved, sonar readings and aerial photographs were taken around the lake, though no strange creature was ever detected. Another blow for the believers came in 1994, when the famous 1934 photograph was proven to be a hoax.
Imaginary Animals Are you familiar with any of these made-up creatures?
Centaur
Dragon
Griffin
Jackalope
A creature with the upper half of a human & the body of a horse
A reptile-like creature with scaly skin, wings, & ability to breath fire
An animal with the body of a lion with the head & wings of an eagle
A cross between a jackrabbit & an antelope
Kraken
Pegasus
Sphinx
Unicorn
A gargantuan, octopuslike sea monster
A winged horse from Greek mythology
An Egyptian creature with A horse with a single the body of a lion & the horn, billy-goat beard, & head of a man a lion’s tale
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