For a long time the Loch Ness Monster has been a creature of cryptozoology that has been sighted in the Lake (Loch) Ness in Scotland. This creature resembles a large aquatic serpent plesiosaur, which today is best known as Nessie, a nickname given by its fans, whether existing or not, the monster is a celebrity today. In fact, there are video cams and web cams on different points of the lake waiting for Nessie to be caught. Many people have relocated to tents and mobile homes nearby waiting for the long time awaited "idol" in which there is a reward for whoever sees him arise from the depth of the waters either live or through the cams installed for that purpose.

There are many theories surrounding the Loch Ness Monster. Considering the time from when it was first reportedly seen to today, it is possible that any actual living Nessie's could be the offspring of many generations from the original monster. Mosy researchers believe that there is more than one Nessie or there is a possible underwater passage that allows the monster to travel. In the United States, a similar monster has been reported in Lake Champlain, Vermont. This creature is known as Champ or Champie, supporting the idea of a possible underwater passageway allowing Nessie to travel from Scotland to the USA, changing its identity.

Although the monster was widely publicized in the early 1960s, the first report was made in 1930. However, the documented sighting of a plesiosaur, a water-bound creature, in 1923 made cryptozoologist believe that the specimen of these monsters existed in the lake at least 200 years ago. However, the description of the creature's appearance suggests an older origin. Expeditions to the bottom of the lake began in the early 1970s, when a group led by American Dr. Robert Rines obtained vague underwater photographs.

Although, many people claim to have seen the monster in recent years, the cameras installed show movement in the lake but no clear shots of Nessie and nobody has claimed the reward yet, but Nessie's enthusiasts keep watching the lake religiously.

In the United Kingdom, the confirmed existence of Nessie is irrelevant because the monster has a mythological meaning to the British people, but particularly to the Scottish that do not need proof to believe in the monsters existence. Modern urban legend or traditional Celtic myth, there is a popular belief rumored from person to person by way of legend saying that a certain hornpipe melody has the ability to attract Nessie to the surface, however only a few people that know the music are still alive today.

There is a website that describes this and numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail. The website is called: Unknown Creatures, and may be found at this address:

http://www.unknown-creatures.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

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