A large aquatic creature allegedly inhabiting Loch Ness in Scotland. Over 1,000 sightings have been reported since 1933, but no scientific evidence has been confirmed.
The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is a large aquatic creature said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Often depicted as a dinosaur-like animal with a long neck and small head, sighting legends date back to a 6th-century account by Saint Columba, though modern interest exploded after a 1933 sighting report.
The most famous image, allegedly taken by London surgeon Robert Kenneth Wilson, shows a long neck protruding from the water. In 1994, Christian Spurling confessed on his deathbed that it was a hoax — a toy submarine fitted with a sculpted head and neck.
In 1987, "Operation Deepscan" used 24 boats in a line to sweep the loch with sonar. Three unidentified large moving contacts were detected, but their nature was never determined.
A team from the University of Otago in New Zealand conducted an environmental DNA analysis of the loch. No DNA from large unknown animals was found, but significant quantities of eel DNA were detected.
Credibility 2/10 — Numerous sightings exist, but the most famous photograph was confirmed as a hoax, and scientific surveys have found no evidence of a large unknown creature. Economic incentives from tourism may amplify reporting.
