Phenomenon Friday: The Loch Ness Monster
- Ashlyn D
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Something ancient stirs beneath the dark waters of Loch Ness—or so the stories go.
Hidden in the misty Highlands of Scotland, Loch Ness is deep, dark, and quiet. Its waters plunge over 700 feet, and their inky blackness has long invited whispers of something massive moving below. That something? The Loch Ness Monster—better known as Nessie. Described as a long-necked, hump-backed beast, Nessie has haunted folklore and headlines alike for nearly a century.
Though tales of a water beast stretch back to the 6th century, Nessie’s legend truly took hold in 1933, when a couple claimed to witness a strange creature slip into the loch. A year later, the infamous “Surgeon’s Photograph” appeared to show a long, swanlike neck rising from the water. It was revealed as a hoax decades later—but by then, Nessie was a household name.
Since then, the sightings haven’t stopped. Tourists and locals alike report hump-like shadows, strange wakes, and even sonar readings of large moving objects deep beneath the surface. A 2018 environmental DNA study ruled out prehistoric reptiles but found a surprising amount of eel DNA—raising new theories that Nessie might be an unusually large eel gliding through the murk.
So... What Could Nessie Actually Be?
There are several theories behind the legend:
Giant Eels: Eel DNA found in the loch supports this idea. Some eels grow surprisingly large—and in dark water, even bigger in the imagination.
Seiches and Waves: Loch Ness can create unusual standing waves, which may look like something moving across the surface.
Driftwood and Debris: Floating logs, branches, or even swimming deer can be misidentified in low visibility.
Birds or Otters: From a distance, animals moving in and out of the water can appear monstrous.
Hoaxes and Optical Illusions: Some sightings are pranks. Others are tricks of light, shadow, and suggestibility.
And yet… with every sonar blip, every ripple that has no clear source, the mystery continues to breathe.
Nessie might be a myth. She might be misidentified as a wildlife. Or maybe—just maybe—she’s something we haven’t discovered yet. Either way, Loch Ness remains one of the last places on Earth where a legend still feels alive... and watching.
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Disclaimer: The content of this blog is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and form their own opinions. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts of That Sounds Terrifying or That Sounds Terrific Productions.
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