Loch Ness Monster - Revision history

GaryJJSpate at 02:13, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T02:13:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:13, 4 August 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\| status = Unconfirmed		\| status = Unconfirmed
	}}		}}
			{{tick}}
	The '''Loch Ness Monster''', affectionately known as '''Nessie''', is a legendary [[lake monster]] said to inhabit [[Loch Ness]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]]. It is one of the world's most famous [[cryptids]] and has become a cornerstone of [[cryptozoology]], attracting worldwide attention through eyewitness reports, photographs, sonar investigations and scientific expeditions.		The '''Loch Ness Monster''', affectionately known as '''Nessie''', is a legendary [[lake monster]] said to inhabit [[Loch Ness]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]]. It is one of the world's most famous [[cryptids]] and has become a cornerstone of [[cryptozoology]], attracting worldwide attention through eyewitness reports, photographs, sonar investigations and scientific expeditions.

GaryJJSpate at 02:12, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T02:12:46Z

Show changes

GaryJJSpate at 20:53, 3 August 2026

2026-08-03T20:53:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 3 August 2026
Line 173:		Line 173:
	[[Category:Forteana]]		[[Category:Forteana]]
	[[Category:Scotland]]		[[Category:Scotland]]
	~~[[Category:1933 introductions]]~~

GaryJJSpate at 13:55, 31 July 2026

2026-07-31T13:55:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:55, 31 July 2026
Line 2:		Line 2:
	\| name = Loch Ness Monster		\| name = Loch Ness Monster
	\| image = LochNessMonster.jpg		\| image = LochNessMonster.jpg
	\| caption = ~~Artist's impression~~ of the Loch Ness Monster ~~based on eyewitness descriptions~~.		\| caption = AI-generated illustration of the Loch Ness Monster, not a photograph.
	\| aka = Nessie		\| aka = Nessie
	\| classification = Lake monster		\| classification = Lake monster

GaryJJSpate at 13:35, 31 July 2026

2026-07-31T13:35:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, 31 July 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:

	{{CryptidInfobox		{{CryptidInfobox
	\| name = Loch Ness Monster		\| name = Loch Ness Monster
Line 34:		Line 33:
	Legends of mysterious creatures inhabiting Loch Ness date back many centuries.		Legends of mysterious creatures inhabiting Loch Ness date back many centuries.

	The earliest commonly cited account ~~appears~~ in the ~~7th~~-~~century~~ ''Life of Saint Columba'', written by [[Adomnán]], ~~which describes Saint~~ Columba ~~encountering a dangerous water beast in the River Ness around AD 565~~.<ref>{{cite book \|author=Adomnán \|title=Life of Saint Columba \|publisher=Penguin Classics \|year=1995}}</ref>		The earliest commonly cited account describes an encounter traditionally dated to around AD 565, in which Saint Columba is said to have confronted a "water beast" in the River Ness and commanded it to retreat.<ref>{{cite web \|title=0565: St. Columba and the Beast in the River Ness \|url=http://anomalyinfo.com/Stories/565-ce-st-columba-and-beast-river-ness \|website=Anomalies: the Strange & Unexplained}}</ref> The episode is known only from ''Vita Columbae'' (''Life of Saint Columba''), written considerably later, around AD 697–700, by Adomnán, ninth Abbot of Iona — meaning the written source postdates the alleged 6th-century encounter by roughly 130 years.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Life of St. Columba by Adomnán of Iona \|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1237012.Life_of_St_Columba \|website=Goodreads}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|author=Adomnán \|title=Life of Saint Columba \|publisher=Penguin Classics \|year=1995}}</ref>

	Whether this account refers to the modern legend remains a subject of debate.		Whether this account refers to the modern legend, or simply reflects a conventional hagiographic "monster-taming" story typical of the genre, remains a subject of debate.

	=== The modern mystery ===		=== The modern mystery ===
Line 52:		Line 51:
	The Loch Ness Monster has been photographed many times, although none of the images has been universally accepted as authentic.		The Loch Ness Monster has been photographed many times, although none of the images has been universally accepted as authentic.

	The most famous example is the [[Surgeon's Photograph]], published in 1934, apparently showing a long-necked creature on the loch.		The most famous example is the [[Surgeon's Photograph]], published in the ''Daily Mail'' on 21 April 1934, apparently showing a long-necked creature rising from the loch.<ref>{{cite web \|title=The story behind photo: Loch Ness Monster \|url=https://storybehindphoto.blogspot.com/2011/10/loch-ness-monster.html \|website=The Story Behind the Photo}}</ref>

	In 1994, ~~participants involved in creating~~ the image ~~admitted it had been an elaborate hoax using~~ a model ~~attached to~~ a toy submarine.<ref>{{cite web \|title=The Surgeon's Photograph Hoax \|url=https://~~www~~.~~lochnessinvestigation~~.com \|website=Loch Ness ~~Investigation~~}}</ref>		In March 1994, researchers David Martin and Alastair Boyd publicised a confession obtained the previous year from model-maker Christian Spurling, who said the image showed a roughly one-foot "head and neck" model built from plastic wood, mounted on a toy submarine and photographed as part of a hoax orchestrated by his stepfather, big-game hunter Marmaduke Wetherell — reportedly in revenge for an earlier public humiliation over faked Loch Ness "footprints."<ref>{{cite web \|title=ShukerNature: The Loch Ness Monster and the Surgeon's Photograph — A Hoax, or a Hoaxed Hoax? \|url=https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-loch-ness-monster-and-surgeons.html \|website=ShukerNature}}</ref> Not every researcher accepts this account without reservation — some point to inconsistencies between the various confessions and testimonies involved — but it remains the most widely accepted explanation for the photograph.<ref>{{cite web \|title=LOCH NESS MONSTER: Back to the Surgeon's Photograph \|url=https://lochnessmystery.blogspot.com/2021/03/back-to-surgeons-photograph.html \|website=Loch Ness Mystery blog}}</ref>

	=== Sonar contacts ===		=== Sonar contacts ===
Line 144:		Line 143:
	* [[Champ]]		* [[Champ]]
	* [[Mokele-mbembe]]		* [[Mokele-mbembe]]

			{{VaultBrief
			\|type=cryptid
			\|classification=Cryptid / alleged unknown lake-dwelling animal
			\|earliest=Traditional accounts trace to a 6th-century encounter (c. AD 565), first recorded in Adomnán's 7th-century ''Life of Saint Columba''
			\|modern=1933–present
			\|evidence=Numerous eyewitness reports, photographs and sonar contacts; the best-known photographic evidence (the Surgeon's Photograph) has been credibly explained as a 1934 hoax, and a 2018 eDNA survey found no genetic evidence of large unknown vertebrates, though it did identify substantial eel DNA
			\|investigations=Loch Ness Investigation Bureau; Operation Deepscan; the University of Otago eDNA project (Neil Gemmell); the Centre for Fortean Zoology; independent researchers including Tim Dinsdale, Roy Mackal and Adrian Shine
			\|assessment=No physical evidence, photograph or survey to date has demonstrated the existence of an unknown large animal in Loch Ness; proposed conventional explanations include misidentified wildlife (particularly large eels), floating debris, wave effects and hoaxes, though no single explanation accounts for every reported sighting
			\|status=Unconfirmed
			}}

			== References ==

			{{Reflist\|colwidth=30em}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==
Line 151:		Line 165:
	* {{cite web \|title=The Loch Ness Project (eDNA) \|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/lochness \|website=University of Otago}}		* {{cite web \|title=The Loch Ness Project (eDNA) \|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/lochness \|website=University of Otago}}
	* {{cite web \|title=Centre for Fortean Zoology \|url=https://www.cfz.org.uk \|website=Centre for Fortean Zoology}}		* {{cite web \|title=Centre for Fortean Zoology \|url=https://www.cfz.org.uk \|website=Centre for Fortean Zoology}}
			* {{cite web \|title=ShukerNature: The Loch Ness Monster and the Surgeon's Photograph \|url=https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-loch-ness-monster-and-surgeons.html \|website=ShukerNature}}
	~~== References~~ ==

	~~{{Reflist~~\|~~colwidth~~=~~30em~~}}

	[[Category:Cryptids]]		[[Category:Cryptids]]
Line 161:		Line 172:
	[[Category:Cryptozoology]]		[[Category:Cryptozoology]]
	[[Category:Forteana]]		[[Category:Forteana]]
			[[Category:Scotland]]
			[[Category:1933 introductions]]

GaryJJSpate: Created page with " {{CryptidInfobox | name = Loch Ness Monster | image = LochNessMonster.jpg | caption = Artist's impression of the Loch Ness Monster based on eyewitness descriptions. | aka = Nessie | classification = Lake monster | region = Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands | first_reported = 6th century (traditional accounts); modern sightings from 1933 | status = Unconfirmed }} The '''Loch Ness Monster''', affectionately known as '''Nessie''', is a legendary lake monster said to i..."

2026-07-29T20:08:09Z

Created page with " {{CryptidInfobox | name = Loch Ness Monster | image = LochNessMonster.jpg | caption = Artist's impression of the Loch Ness Monster based on eyewitness descriptions. | aka = Nessie | classification = Lake monster | region = Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands | first_reported = 6th century (traditional accounts); modern sightings from 1933 | status = Unconfirmed }} The '''Loch Ness Monster''', affectionately known as '''Nessie''', is a legendary lake monster said to i..."

New page

{{CryptidInfobox
| name = Loch Ness Monster
| image = LochNessMonster.jpg
| caption = Artist's impression of the Loch Ness Monster based on eyewitness descriptions.
| aka = Nessie
| classification = Lake monster
| region = [[Loch Ness]], Scottish Highlands
| first_reported = 6th century (traditional accounts); modern sightings from 1933
| status = Unconfirmed
}}

The '''Loch Ness Monster''', affectionately known as '''Nessie''', is a legendary [[lake monster]] said to inhabit [[Loch Ness]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]]. It is one of the world's most famous [[cryptids]] and has become a cornerstone of [[cryptozoology]], attracting worldwide attention through eyewitness reports, photographs, sonar investigations and scientific expeditions.

Although no conclusive evidence has demonstrated the existence of an unknown animal in Loch Ness, sightings continue to be reported, and the mystery remains one of the most enduring subjects in paranormal research.

== Description ==

Descriptions of the Loch Ness Monster vary considerably, although witnesses commonly describe:

* A long neck emerging from the water.
* One or more humps visible at the surface.
* Grey, brown or dark-coloured skin.
* A large, powerful body.
* Rapid movement through the water.
* Unusual wakes or disturbances on otherwise calm water.

Some reports describe the creature as resembling a [[plesiosaur]], while others depict it as more serpent-like or similar to a giant eel.

== History ==

=== Early traditions ===

Legends of mysterious creatures inhabiting Loch Ness date back many centuries.

The earliest commonly cited account appears in the 7th-century ''Life of Saint Columba'', written by [[Adomnán]], which describes Saint Columba encountering a dangerous water beast in the River Ness around AD 565.<ref>{{cite book |author=Adomnán |title=Life of Saint Columba |publisher=Penguin Classics |year=1995}}</ref>

Whether this account refers to the modern legend remains a subject of debate.

=== The modern mystery ===

The modern Loch Ness Monster phenomenon began in 1933 after the completion of a new road alongside Loch Ness made the water more accessible to motorists.

That year, George Spicer and his wife reported seeing a large creature crossing the road before disappearing into the loch, an account that received widespread newspaper coverage.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ronald Binns |title=The Loch Ness Mystery Solved |publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1984}}</ref>

Throughout the 1930s numerous additional sightings were reported, transforming Nessie into an international phenomenon.

== Alleged evidence ==

=== Photographs ===

The Loch Ness Monster has been photographed many times, although none of the images has been universally accepted as authentic.

The most famous example is the [[Surgeon's Photograph]], published in 1934, apparently showing a long-necked creature on the loch.

In 1994, participants involved in creating the image admitted it had been an elaborate hoax using a model attached to a toy submarine.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Surgeon's Photograph Hoax |url=https://www.lochnessinvestigation.com |website=Loch Ness Investigation}}</ref>

=== Sonar contacts ===

Numerous sonar surveys have detected unidentified underwater objects within Loch Ness.

Some researchers argue these contacts may represent large moving animals, while sceptics attribute them to schools of fish, underwater debris, geological features or equipment limitations.

=== Underwater photography ===

Several expeditions have produced underwater photographs showing unusual shapes or large unidentified objects.

None has been accepted as conclusive evidence of an unknown species.

=== Environmental DNA ===

In 2018, an international team led by geneticist [[Neil Gemmell]] analysed environmental DNA (eDNA) collected throughout Loch Ness.

The study found no evidence supporting the presence of large reptiles such as plesiosaurs but identified significant quantities of eel DNA, leading researchers to suggest that unusually large eels may explain some sightings.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Loch Ness Project: Searching for Nessie using eDNA |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/lochness |website=University of Otago}}</ref>

== Investigations ==

The Loch Ness Monster has been the subject of numerous scientific and independent investigations.

Notable organisations and projects include:

* [[Loch Ness Investigation Bureau]]
* [[Operation Deepscan]]
* [[University of Otago Loch Ness eDNA Project]]
* [[Centre for Fortean Zoology]]

Researchers associated with investigations include:

* [[Tim Dinsdale]]
* [[Roy Mackal]]
* [[Adrian Shine]]
* [[Neil Gemmell]]

== Proposed explanations ==

Numerous explanations have been proposed for Loch Ness Monster reports, including:

* An unknown aquatic animal.
* A surviving prehistoric species.
* Giant eels.
* Misidentification of known wildlife.
* Floating logs or wave effects.
* Optical illusions.
* Hoaxes.

No single explanation accounts for every reported sighting.

== In popular culture ==

Nessie has become one of Scotland's best-known cultural icons.

The Loch Ness Monster has appeared extensively in:

* Television documentaries.
* Feature films.
* Children's literature.
* Video games.
* Advertising campaigns.
* Tourism promotions.

The legend attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Loch Ness each year and has become synonymous with Scottish folklore.

== Related cryptids ==

The Loch Ness Monster is one of many reported [[lake monster|lake monsters]] around the world, including:

* [[Ogopogo]]
* [[Champ]]
* [[Lagarfljót Worm]]
* [[Nahuelito]]
* [[Manipogo]]
* [[Mokele-mbembe]]

== See also ==

* [[Lake monster]]
* [[Cryptid]]
* [[Cryptozoology]]
* [[Loch Ness]]
* [[Surgeon's Photograph]]
* [[Operation Deepscan]]
* [[Loch Ness Investigation Bureau]]
* [[Ogopogo]]
* [[Champ]]
* [[Mokele-mbembe]]

== External links ==

* {{cite web |title=The Official Loch Ness Centre |url=https://lochness.com |website=The Loch Ness Centre}}
* {{cite web |title=Loch Ness Investigation |url=https://www.lochnessinvestigation.com |website=Loch Ness Investigation}}
* {{cite web |title=The Loch Ness Project (eDNA) |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/lochness |website=University of Otago}}
* {{cite web |title=Centre for Fortean Zoology |url=https://www.cfz.org.uk |website=Centre for Fortean Zoology}}

== References ==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:Cryptids]]
[[Category:Lake monsters]]
[[Category:Scottish folklore]]
[[Category:Cryptozoology]]
[[Category:Forteana]]