loch ness monster : an unsolved mystery
TRANSCRIPT
Loch ness monster
By Ria Bohidar
• The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid, reputedly a large unknown animal that inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next.
The Mystery
Popular interest and belief in the animal's existence has varied since it was first brought to the world's attention in 1933.
Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with minimal and much-disputed photographic material and sonar readings.
The most common speculation among believers is that the creature represents a line of long-surviving plesiosaurs.
The scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a modern-day myth, and explains sightings as including misidentifications of more mundane objects, outright hoaxes, and wishful thinking.
Despite this, it remains one of the most famous examples of cyptozoology. The legendary monster has been affectionately referred to by the nickname Nessie.
• The term "monster" was reportedly applied for the first time to the creature on 2 May 1933 by Alex Campbell, the water bailiff for Loch Ness and a part time journalist.
• He and his wife had seen "the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life", trundling across the road toward the Loch carrying "an animal" in its mouth.
• On 6 December 1933 the first purported photograph of the monster, taken by Hugh Gray, was published in the Daily Express.
• In 1934, interest was further sparked by what is known as The Surgeon’s Photograph. In the same year R.T.Gould published a book, the first of many that describe the author's personal investigation and collected record of additional reports pre-dating 1933.
Who saw it first???
Hugh Gray’s Photograph(1933)
• On 12 November 1933, Hugh Gray was walking along the loch after church when he spotted a large creature rising up from the lake. Gray took several pictures of it, but only one of them showed up after they were developed.
"Surgeon's Photograph" (1934)
The "Surgeon's Photograph" purported to be the first photo of a "head and neck“. Dr. Wilson claimed he was looking at the loch when he saw the monster, so grabbed his camera and snapped five photos.
Misidentification of common animals
Eels A giant eel was one of the first suggestions
made as eels are found in Loch Ness. Seals A number of photographs confirmed the
presence of eels in Loch Ness. In 1934 the
Sir Edward Mountain expedition analysed film taken the same year and concluded that the monster was a species of seal.
Misidentification of inanimate objects or effects
• Trees• In 1933 the Daily mirror showed a picture with the
following caption 'This queerly-shaped tree-trunk, washed ashore at Foyers may, it is thought, be responsible for the reported appearance of a "Monster”’.
• Optical effects• Wind conditions can give a slightly choppy and thus
matte appearance to the water, with occasional calm patches appearing as dark ovals (reflecting the mountains) from the shore, which can appear as humps to visitors unfamiliar with the loch.
• Seismic waves• An Italian geologist explain that Loch
Ness is located along the Green Glen Fault, hence there are disturbances at surface of water, gas is being released which is mistaken by all as a huge animal below the surface.
• Hoaxes• The Loch Ness monster phenomenon has
seen several attempts to hoax the public, some of which were very successful.
