Chinese Lake Monster Video: Real or Fake Loch Ness?

You've seen it on Youtube, or the internet somewhere - Lake Kansai in China claims to have monsters in the water. The Heavenly Mountains area has had numerous videos shot over the years, but a tourist got a good look (and film) on July 5th, 2007 described as the "clearest ever seen of a legendary beast that has been rumoured for centuries to live in the depths of Lake Kanasi."

The film is somewhat grainy, but shows around 15 objects moving underwater at a high rate of speed. The water turns into a bubbling blue frenzy from the activity. Chinese Central Television put the clip on the local news broadcast. State television made no attempt to identify the animals, saying only: 'This time a large number of unidentified creatures emerged, bringing more mystery to Lake Kanasi."

The story about the lake monster has evolved over the years. It has been known to drag cows, sheep and horses into the water and eat them. Yuan Guoying, of the Xinjiang Institute of Environmental Protection, told The Times that the video provided important proof in his more than two decades of research at the lake. "Only fish could make waves in this formation. I think the video is real." You have to wonder if his motivation for affirming the video is soley to support the tourist industry of China. A lake monster will bring more people and attention to the Heavenly Mountains than just a lake.

Mr.Yuan believes that a lot more research is needed although China doesn't have the equipment to study the matter closer. Catching a fish this size would be virtually impossible. "This fish will have tremendous strength."

Other Chinese scientists have been skeptical, to say the least, on his findings, but Mr Yuan is standing firm in his opinion. "People will just say 'You've got to be kidding'. But I saw them with my own eyes. I am a scientist. I have no choice but to believe what I saw."