Ness Monster Myths

Cheyenne Blair
Mrs. Bishop
English 12
8 March 2017
Searching for Nessie
It was a blustery night on the coast of Scotland. Alexander was on his way home when he noticed something strange in the waters. He assured himself it was nothing to worry about. Then again, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark mass bobbing in the water. He parked his car on the side of the road and observed the ocean very carefully. He sighed in relief when he realized it was just a buoy. This occurrence made him think of a tall-tale his grandfather used to tell him, the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. This folklore has been around for many years and has been investigated by scientists and research organizations. The Loch Ness Monster is an enigmatic creature
thought to be lurking among the Highlands of Scotland. Sightings have been reported, and suspicion has led to philosophies trying to determine whether this beast is real or a myth.
The Loch Ness Monster lives in a neighborhood full of small fish, sand, and acres of water. The Scottish Highlands contains a massive lake known as Loch Ness (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). In Scotland, this enormous mass of water is noted to be one of the largest and deepest lakes around (“Loch Ness,” Myths 1). Also, this area happens to be a popular vacation spot considering it is well-known for its mysterious legend (Real-Life 7). Needless to say, Loch Ness would be a great place to visit. The Loch Ness legend has been around for many years.
In the first century A.D., Romans traveled to northern Scotland. When they arrived, they found a barbarous tribe living on the land which they called the Picts (Lyons 1). Today you can tell “from the carved standing stones still found in the region around Loch Ness, it is clear the Picts were fascinated by animals, and careful to render them with great fidelity” (Lyons 1). The stones are still glorified today because of a mysterious illustration. The animals portrayed on the ancient stones are authentic and distinct except one (Lyons 1). This was the earliest known documentation of the Loch Ness Monster (Lyons 1). There are many different legends of the Loch Ness Monster; one version tells of the water-horse inviting children into the water to play on its back. When the children arrive, their hands become attached to the sea dragon and they are yanked under water to a miserable death (Lyons 1). This antique creature has been around long enough to tell many
tales.
There are many interesting things to learn about this exotic sea serpent. As expected, the Loch Ness Monster is a mythical creature (“Top Ten” 1). Loch Ness is thought to be a plesiosaur, who once lived on Earth (“Top Ten” 1). Nessie is known to have a long beak, a spout, and gooey flippers (Lyons 1). Obviously, Loch Ness happens to be a typical sea monster.
Apart from the background, there have been many reports and sightings of the Loch Ness Monster throughout the years. The first record of Nessie was made in 565 c.e. (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). This report was made by an Irish missionary known as St. Columbia who came to Scotland to spread Christianity (“Loch Ness,” Myths 1). In 1933, a road was built next to the lake, making it easily accessible. Shortly after the road was built, many people announced sightings of the water horse which became popular all around the world (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). One report states a local couple spotting a monstrous creature plunging on the surface of the lake (Lyons 2.) Numerous people have witnessed the beast in modern times (“Loch Ness,” Myths 1). The Loch Ness Monster has been seen many times since the first report.
Reporters have described Loch Ness in many different ways. Nessie has been depicted as a classic sea serpent. She has also been characterized as having one hump or many humps. Some have said she has feet or flippers and horns or no horns (“Deeper” 103). The most important description is that this creature resembles a plesiosaur (“Top Ten” 76). The interpretations of Loch Ness have made her an unforgettable legend. The legend of Loch Ness has been studied by doctors and investigation organizations. In 1933, a london doctor took the first photograph of Nessie. The most popular photo was taken in 1951 by a forestry worker (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). In 1961, a research organization was founded to investigate the mysterious sightings of Loch Ness. This management was known as The Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau. (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). Although this legend has been researched for many years, there is no actual proof of the existence of this monster. Many people that believe Nessie is real find that the Loch Ness lake would be an efficient environment for her survival. Scientists have suspected that a family of plesiosaurs were cornered in Loch Ness when it was disconnected from the ocean (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). For years, people have said an enormous creature lives in the lake’s cold waters (“Real-Life” 7). Some say the lake is a perfect habitat because of the following conditions: wide area, tropical climate, and abundant food supply (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). Without a doubt, these ideal conditions would make a great place for a sea monster to live. There has been a lot of evidence proving the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. It has been suspected that a group of massive animals live in the Loch, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Great Britain. This belief is based on the fact that the lake used to be linked to the ocean (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). In 1960, Tim Dinsdale caught Nessie on film for one minute. Although the image was cloudy, he was sure it was her. The photo was examined by the British government and they concluded the phenomenon was alive (Tarshis 7-8). Because of today’s technology, submarines and sonars have exposed a cavern known as Nessie’s home (“Loch Ness,” Monkeyshines 14). In the 1970s, a sonar image was taken which seemed to show a flipper (Tarshis 8). Also, a sonar illusion caught an unusual wave developed by fast-moving sonar echoes (“Deeper” 103). This spooky evidence proves there must be something living out there! Some people believe in realistic theories, others believe in what seem like made-up stories. The Loch Ness Monster is recognized as a leftover dinosaur (“Real-Life” 7). One theory suggests that Nessie was a prehistoric mammal, also known as a plesiosaur, who survived the last ice age and is now living in the Loch (Tarshis 7). Another theory suggests the Nessie might spent decades frozen, then thawed and came back to life (“Deeper” 103). It is safe to say, these theories seem a bit unrealistic. The Loch Ness Monster is said to be related to the plesiosaur family; yet, non-believers have gone to drastic measures to prove Ness is a myth.
The Loch Ness was formed after the most recent ice age. Which means a just a few thousand years ago the lake was completely frozen. Also, dinosaurs and plesiosaurs went extinct millions of years before that (“Top Ten” 76). Even if plesiosaurs did live in the Loch, they could not have survived because it grew too cold for any animal to live there (“Deeper” 103). Plesiosaurs were air-breathers; therefore, if these antique creatures lived in Loch Ness everyone would be able to see them considering they have to come up several times each hour for air. Plesiosaurs were also tropical ocean animals, Loch Ness’s climate would not fit their environment (“Top Ten” 76). It can be concluded that the Loch Ness Monster was definitely not a
plesiosaur. Submarines and sonars have scanned the entire lake. Many people do not know it but, “...Loch Ness has been systematically scanned by fleets of boats with sonar” (“Top Ten” 76). This has proven that there are no monsters in the Loch Ness lake. In 2003, British scientists hoped to confirm the plesiosaur theory by studying the lake with sonar and satellites. Scientists Ian Florence and his group examined the entire lake and found no signs of any large animal. He then terminated the investigation and said there is nothing there (Tarshis 8). It is safe to say, there are no monsters in Loch Ness. There is not any actual evidence proving the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. The main reason people suspected Nessie to be a plesiosaur is because of the popular Surgeon’s Photo. This picture is now known to be a bluff created by using a small model (“Top Ten” 76). Scientists, investigation groups, and suspicious people have tried to find any signs of proof but these attempts have not been successful (“Loch Ness” Myths 1). Many people have tried to solve the Loch Ness mystery but it is already solved (“Top Ten” 76). Although there have been numerous tests to prove this hypothesis, it is determined there in no monster in Loch Ness. In conclusion, it is easy to determine this legend is a myth. Loch Ness was known for its mysterious tall-tales that became very popular. Although there were many sightings and reports, there was not any actual proof of this monster’s existence. Believers of Nessie assume she was a leftover dinosaur and now lives in Scotland’s largest lake. Scientists have examined the lake top to bottom, and there are no signs of this mythical creature. The Loch Ness Monster legend is a spectacular mystery and a fun story to tell but it looks like this legend is a myth afterall.