Loch Ness Monster, Mythical creature in Scottish Highlands
Nessie, as the creature is often called, is a mythical animal of the Scottish Highlands said to live in the deep freshwater of Loch Ness. Eyewitnesses usually describe it as a large shape with a long neck that occasionally rises above the dark water surface before disappearing again.
The first written mention dates to 565, when Saint Columba recorded an encounter with a water beast in the River Ness. Modern interest awakened in the 1930s after a road was built along the shore, opening up views of the lake and prompting new reports of strange movements in the water.
Souvenir shops around the lake sell plush toys, postcards and all sorts of items bearing the image of the creature, which has long become a symbol of the region. Boat tours run daily across the water and stop at spots where sightings were reported, while guides tell stories and visitors scan the surface.
A visitor center by the shore offers exhibitions about the ecology of the lake and examines reported sightings through interactive stations. Boat tours depart from several points along the shore and provide an opportunity to observe the dark depths yourself.
A survey of environmental DNA conducted in 2018 found high concentrations of eel genetic material in the water but no trace of large unknown species. Some researchers therefore suspect that unusually large eels might account for some of the reported sightings.
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