We've all heard about the Loch Ness Monster, which is the granddaddy of all modern monster legends.  But is there really something going on in that Loch (Lake) in Scotland?  Nobody knows for sure, but there are unique circumstances here that certainly warrant further investigation, including the unusual configuration of the land and the lake itself, the long history of sightings from reliable sources that number up to ten thousand, and the fact that strange and undiscovered creatures most definitely do exist and occasionally come to light as we become more technologically advanced.  "Nessie" is the most renowned occurrence in the area, but what not many people are aware of is that ALL the lochs in the area have histories of sightings of strange creatures.   

The configuration of the loch itself likely has everything to do with the legend of the monster, and a thorough primer on the land and it's unique characteristics does open up  some intriguing theories as to what may be going on here. Loch Ness is situated directly on a large fault line (The Great Glen) and is over 900 feet  deep at some points, with an average depth of over 600 feet.  This is an active fault line with recent evidence indicating that it may also contain a subterranean volcano, which is also active.  Scientists have found evidence of huge plankton and nematode worms that appear to be feeding off the volcanic vents at the bottom of the lake, providing a fascinating scenario as to how a dinosaur-like aquatic creature may have been able to survive the ice age that covered the area millions of years ago - by hovering near the bottom and feeding off these worms and plankton. 

Another theory is that there are subterranean passageways to the sea somewhere in the 900 feet of water in the loch, thereby providing access from the sea for whatever creature this may be, which would help explain the sporadic nature of its appearance - it possibly comes to breed or feed, or whatever. 

Then there's the water itself.  Loch Ness is fed by many streams and rivers in the area, and contains high peat and other organic content, making the water itself very dark - almost black, and also reducing buoyancy, possibly explaining why no bones or other body remnants of any kind of strange creature have ever surfaced.  Apparently, even fish that die in the loch just sink to the lake floor rather than float on the surface.  The dark water also makes underwater photography impossible, thwarting attempts to find the creature and photograph it underwater, which helps explain why all attempts to capture the creature on film have been unsuccessful.

Since the loch was carved out of ice during the ice age, it is likely that there are multiple subsurface caves there, and combined with the dark water, it becomes less surprising that a fairly large aquatic creature could hide from all attempts to locate it.  One sonar expedition did get a glimpse of a large fleeting fin-like shape beneath the surface at one point, but whatever it was proved too fast to track. 

The theory has it that there would have to be more than one creature in the loch in order to continue the species over such a long period of time (over 1,500 years since the first reported sighting).  Indeed, many sightings have been reported of two beasts, usually a large one accompanied by a smaller one.   Theories on exactly what this creature is vary considerably but  the most intriguing of these is that it is a plesiosaurus, a dinosaur believed extinct for thousands of years.  Unfortunately, the basis for this theory has been largely based on the famous photo at the top of this page, which has been proven to be a hoax.  Other  speculation includes it being just  large fish, maybe a sturgeon, or simply an underwater wave.   The most interesting theory, however, is that it is something we haven't thought of yet - a species yet undiscovered.   Given the layout of the land, with the possibility of gasses and radiation being emitted from the bottom of the loch, this may not be as outlandish an idea as it would appear at first glance.

One other fascinating theory that is worth a mention here is that the entire area may be some sort of psychic gateway for unknown reasons, and the sightings are the results of  glimpses into another dimension.  

The truth is, nobody really knows what lies at the bottom of the deep and mysterious lake, but the sheer volume of reports from reliable sources indicates that something is going on there.  With all our modern technology, we are no closer to solving this mystery than we were 1,500 years ago, but many continue to try, and hopefully one day the mystery of the loch will come to light. 

On an interesting note, I have a relationship with a writer who does work for my other website who just happens to live in the Scottish Highlands.  I recently asked him what he thought about the lake and the monster, and here is what he had to say:

"Fascinating topic. Officially the locals will say no, of course (don't want the publicity, don't want to be thought of as 'a bit odd'), although there's always a sighting before the start of the tourist season!  Funny that.  I hold an open mind myself."

"Last summer we went to Dores - the Dores Inn - beside the shores of Loch Ness. I was chatting to the husband of the woman who runs the Inn. He said she and one of the barmen had seen the monster one evening, quite late at night, quite close in, but they had taken a few drinks themselves and didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Mind you, the whole area is peppered with stories, myths and legends about 'Nessie'. So who really knows. Personally I think there has to be something out there..... "

Another friend from Scotland had this to say:

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