The Loch Ness Monster first made its "appearance" in 565 in St Columba's biography, but it was more recent times that brought the legend to life. It has been over 85 years since the first photographic "proof" of Nessie appeared. Since then, thousands of photos and stories have emerged.

Although there were several reports of sightings before then, the first photograph was taken by Hugh Gray in November 1933. Although grainy and misty, the photo shows something in the loch. There are many speculations as to what the photo is actual of.

People from all over the world wanted to get a glimpse of the creature, some determined to capture it. There have been numerous expeditions into the loch in search of evidence. In the 1960s, a ten year analysis was made. Sonar studies in 1968 found multiple large animate objects, but were unable to identify them. An expedition in 1987 reported several unidentified moving objects. There have also been strange sound recordings.

Constant hoaxes make it difficult to prove the existence or non-existence of Nessie. Many photographs have been altered to present a monster. One of the most famous is known as the "surgeon's photo", which presents a plesiosaur-like creature. (Plesiosaurs were long necked water dinosaurs believed to be extinct for several million years). This photo seemed to be legitimate evidence for almost 30 years, until revealed as a fake in 1994. Many other photos have been explained as birds, otters, deer, seals, and more.

The possibility of the Loch Ness Monster increased due to the recent discovery of a coelacanth fish that was believed to be extinct hundreds of millions of years ago. The discovery of "Nessie's Lair", a large underwater cavern, has added to the possibility suggesting there could be a network of caves for such a creature to hide in.

You can decide for yourself whether you believe or not, but the legend continues to grow.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Not readable? Change text.