The Loch Ness Monster

The story of a mysterious monster living in a Scottish loch (lake) has been making waves since it first emerged in 1933. For nearly a century, it has captured the imagination of locals, tourists, and researchers. There are more than one thousand reports and even a handful of photographs showing large shadowy figures living in the water. People call this creature the Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie”, and despite there being no concrete evidence of its existence so far, the legend is Scotland’s most famous mystery.

Origins

There are many theories of what Nessie could be. Some think it might be a prehistoric plesiosaur that survived extinction, while others believe the sightings might simply be other animals, such as large fish or eels.

The Loch itself adds to the mystery. At over 230 metres deep and 23 miles long, it contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. Its remote location makes research difficult and its dark, peat-stained waters make visibility extremely poor.

Researchers have tried for decades to solve the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. Some have used submarines to hunt for clues and “Nessie Spotting” boat tours regularly use sonar to show tourists what’s beneath the water. Sonar systems map the loch with pulses of sound. These pulses travel through the water and bounce off objects. Like an echo, the time it takes these signals to return to the receiver can help map the area. In 2020, one boat found a large blob-like object at about 170 metres deep. Steve Feltham, who lives on the edge of Loch Ness and is a “full-time Nessie hunter”, called this discovery “compelling”.

Researchers from seven different organisations even tried sampling the loch for DNA in 2019. By analysing traces of DNA left behind by organisms, they hoped to create a comprehensive picture of the loch’s ecosystem. DNA is a chemical that carries all the information about a living thing and its characteristics. The researchers found lots of eel DNA but nothing to suggest anything extraordinary lurking in its waters.

The lack of any solid evidence continues to fuel speculation and debate.

Going deeper

Keen for answers, hundreds of people participated in a new search for Nessie in 2023.

One of the newest tools used was thermal imaging drones. Scanning the surface of the water, the drones searched for heat spots that could indicate the presence of large, warm-blooded animals. A television camera crew spotted “an unusual heat signature” near the shore and couldn’t say for certain what it was. Is it possible for such a creature to have evaded discovery for millions of years?

Once again, researchers tried to find Nessie using high-resolution sonar. While sonar has been used in past searches, modern equipment is more accurate. Unfortunately for the scientists, neither thermal imaging drones nor sonar identified anything that was definitely linked to Nessie, although they did help researchers to better understand the loch’s geography.

New technology can bring fresh data to old mysteries. Special underwater microphones called hydrophones proved to be the most exciting development. Bioacoustics is the study of sound made by living things. Scientists use special microphones to capture the sounds of the natural world before analysing them and reaching conclusions. These recordings can help scientists track animals and their behaviour. The hydrophones in Loch Ness heard four “mysterious and previously unheard loud noises” but the sounds were not recorded. Other hydrophone tests haven’t revealed anything unusual.

Back on land

The mystery of the Loch Ness Monster is as much a mystery about people as it is a mystery about animals and their environment. The search continues to attract curious minds from around the world. The legend unites people in interest and hope. For some it represents the chance to confront the mysteries of nature, because there is still so much we do not know. For others, it is simply a really good story and a chance to get involved in something from the tales of folklore.

Also

The allure of the unknown isn’t limited to Loch Ness. There are similar tales of hidden creatures and mysteries in lakes around the world. Lake Champlain, spanning the US-Canadian border, is said to host “Champ”, a snake-like cryptid (an animal whose existence is questionable) with sightings dating back to old legends.

Lake Baikal in Siberia, the world’s deepest freshwater lake, has also intrigued researchers with its stories, including reports of unusual lights in the water.

These legends are often connected to the unique ecosystems of these lakes and are attempts to explain what humans might not understand. In Lake Baikal, scientists have discovered endemic species (species that live permanently in one location) like the Baikal seal which has adapted to its cold and isolated waters.

Mysteries of the deep go beyond legendary creatures. In 2016, researchers in the Pacific Ocean discovered a “ghost octopus” at depths over 4,000 meters. Lacking pigment (colour), it was dubbed Casper after the friendly ghost from films and TV.

First published in The Week Junior Science+Nature, issue 84, January 2025.