The Loch Ness Monster is a legendary creature purported to inhabit Scotland's Loch Ness, the most voluminous freshwater lake in Great Britain. Since reported sightings in the early twentieth century, Loch Ness has become world renowned for its mysterious lake monster. Local Scottish highlanders, and many people around the world, have affectionately referred to the animal by the feminine name of Nessie. Most scientists and other experts find current evidence supporting the creature's existence unpersuasive, and regard the occasional sightings as hoaxes or misidentification of known creatures or natural phenomena. However, belief in the legend persists around the world, with the most popular theory posing that the creature is actually a plesiosaur. Beyond the debate as to whether Nessie is real or imaginary is the fact that this creature, like the Yeti of the Himalayan Mountains or Sasquatch in North America, inspire people on a imaginative, even subconscious level, tapping into that part of humanity that connects with the supernatural and unknown.
Over the years, the many sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, have produced a rather uniform description of the creature. It is said to have a long, slender neck that attaches a flat, rectangular head to a rounded body that possess four large flippers. Some report Nessie to have a long, slender tail while others insist it is shorter and thicker. One of the most prominent features attributed to Nessie are the eyes, large and situated on either side of the head. The color and length of the creature seems to be a point of contention, possibly due to the fact that the loch is dark and murky, sunlight not easily penetrating through the peat moss concentrated in the water. Reports have Nessie appearing grey or a dark tan color, ranging from the size of an elephant to as large as a whale.
