The Loch Ness Monster is a sea creature that is rumored to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is said that the creature originated from the Jurassic Era and is a direct descendant of the Plesiosaurs. It has a large body, resembling that of a tortoise, with four flipper limbs. The neck of the Loch Ness is long and nearly doubles the length of its body. This allows the creature to bring its head just above the surface of the water for oxygen and remain undetected. It is alleged that the Loch Ness is in fact a female hence, the nickname “Nessie”.
Many locals believe that the Loch Ness Monster is no monster at all – but a protector of the lake instead. Nessie helps to maintain the natural balance of the Loch Ness Lake and protects the lake from potential threats. While sightings of the Loch Ness Monster are extremely rare, several reports claim that the creature is anywhere between 12 to 25 feet in length. Given its vast size, it is said that the Loch Ness monster lives in an underwater cave. This underwater cave is alleged to have a pocket of air that allows the reptile-like creature to breathe, given that the creature has lungs instead of gills. It is the ‘pocket of air’ that provides the Loch Ness Monster with a steady supply of oxygen, which is why it is so rarely seen on the surface of the lake.
Researchers have found that the Loch Ness Monster navigates through the water by the means of echolocation. By using echolocation, this allows Nessie to navigate through the water and feed with little to no light. Researchers have also found that, on average, a ‘sighting’ has occurred every 3-7 years since 1967. Because the occurrences are so frequent, it is said that more than one Loch Ness Monster lives in the lake.
-Genevieve Meza