The Loch Ness Monster: Is "Nessie" Nothing More Than a Myth?

If there is one myth that I would love to believe is true, it is that of the "Loch Ness Monster." I'm not sure what it is that enthralls me about this particular myth, but I suspect it has to do with the fact that "Nessie", as he or she is affectionately called, doesn't appear to want to do any harm. How many so-called "monsters" can stake that claim?

Nessie supposedly resides in Loch Ness, near the city of Inverness in northern Scotland. Loch Ness is one of a set of interlinking lochs located in the area. It is the largest freshwater lake in Great Britain.

Each year thousands of tourists flock to Loch Ness, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the monster. Chances actually aren't that good; not because I don't believe Nessie exists, but because the peat content in the water in that area makes visibility very difficult. Nessie could hide there in plain sight without much difficulty at all.

Some Scottish folk believe that Nessie is what they refer to as a "water kelpie." Folklore says that water kelpies lure children into the water by promising them a ride across the lake. However, the ending of the tale isn't very positive. As the story goes, children accepting the ride would then find themselves stuck to the kelpie, drowning when it decided to dive under the water.

So was Nessie invented as an urban legend to keep children away from the dangerous water? Although, it certainly would seem possible, it is highly unlikely. Nessie has been viewed by too many people, both in and out of water, for that to be the case.

Carvings of an unusual aquatic creature, done by ancient inhabitants dating back some 1500 years, seem to validate that Nessie has always been a part of Loch Ness. Rumors of the monster's existence have continued throughout the centuries. The first known modern sighting, however, began in May of 1933. The Inverness Courier documented the story of this sighting.