Beware These 10 Lake Monsters From Around the World

One of Norway’s deep fjords, Seljordsvatnet, within the township of Seljord, some 40 miles from Oslo, is the home of Selma. Selma is said to be very large, with a long, snake-like body, a horse-like head, and flippers. There have been many sightings of Selma by locals since she was first reported in 1750. Scientists from the Oceanographic Institute of Bergen conducted expeditions to find Selma. Although they recorded some strange sound recordings and blurry images of what they called a “Selma Baby,” nothing definitive resulted. They even set out a tubular monster trap in the hope of snaring a baby sea mammal, but with no success. Regardless, Selma has a home in Seljord–her image graces the town’s coat of arms.

Nessie is probably the best-known and most famous of all the lake monsters. Loch Ness is a freshwater lake in a chain of similar lochs in the Scottish Highlands southwest of Inverness, approximately 23 miles long and 788 feet deep. The first sighting of a gigantic, long-necked sea creature with the body of a whale rolling on the surface of the water was published in an article in the Inverness Courier in 1933, has sparked a never-ending “Nessie fever,” with many alleged sightings since and scientific expeditions to film or even capture the monster. None have been successful. You can explore the loch by boat and learn all about Nessie in the Loch Ness Centre (currently being refurbished but will re-open in spring 2023).

Lake Van is Turkey’s largest lake, located in Eastern Anatolia on the border with Iran. There are mountains surrounding the lake as well as several islands with historical significance in it. And then there is Canavan: the lake monster. The first story about the monster with a long neck and two humps protruding from the water was published in an Ottoman newspaper in 1889. More stories followed until in 1992, a Turkish man claimed to have made a video of the creature. It was met with much skepticism because the monster only seemed to move in a straight line, never in circles. This video was deemed fake but nevertheless caused a sensation. The final account came from three brothers who were camping at the shore and washing their hands in the water when they were attacked by a huge sea creature. It wrapped its tail around one of the brothers and pulled him into the depth. The body was never found or seen again. Scientific expeditions were finally abandoned because of the cost, but a statue modeled on the supposed appearance of Canavan stands in its honor in the city of Van.

In the middle of Sweden in Jamtland Haijedalen lies the dark Lake Storjons, often shrouded in mist and fog. The atmosphere contributes to the mystery of a prehistoric creature living in the lake. So far, about 500 people have reported having seen the monster, describing it as a black wormlike body with a catlike head, topped with spiky fins on the back. The first mention of the creature dates back to 1635, and since then sightings, stories, and legends have thrived. One of the legends is that two trolls cooked a magic brew in a cauldron out of which, with a great bang, the monster jumped and disappeared into the lake. Whereas the Lake Van monster is perceived as dangerous, this one seems benevolent. There is a research center in Svenstavik at the southern point of the lake where you can learn about the monster and even create your own.

Nahuelito is said to live in Lake Nahuel Huapi in Bariloche, Patagonia. Legends about a plesiosaur-like creature with a leathery body, two humps on its back, and a long tail that has been peacefully living in the lake have circulated since before Spanish colonialism. Despite some expeditions in the early 1920s, nothing has been noted but for the occasional bump against a boat–which could have been caused by anything.

Lake Como in Lombardy is one of Europe’s deepest lakes, the outstanding beauty of which attracts many visitors each year. The lake is presumably also home to a cryptoid beast called Lariosauros, or “Larrie” for short. The first sightings of this creature were reported in 1830 when the fossil of a 12-meter-long creature with a long neck, tail, four flippers, and head with a snout like a crocodile was discovered, fortifying the belief that such an animal could live in the depth of the lake. In 1946, two hunters claimed to have seen an eel-like creature near Lecco. When they aimed their rifles at it, it swam away with a fearsome hiss. The latest reported sighting was in 2003 by a group of fishermen, but that was also doubted and perceived as a large school of fish swimming together. As with all the other lake monsters, no scientific proof could be found.

The locals of McKinley Beach, Kelowna, on the shores of Okanogan Lake in British Columbia, are more than familiar with the image of Ogopogo, their very own lake monster. This is because the monster is a huge tourist attraction. Images of the snake-like, gray or green creature are everywhere: statues, t-shirts, and even stuffed toys. This monster is based more on legend and history than all the other ones. The folklore originates from Okanagan First Nation’s people, who started praying to a water spirit called N’ha-a-itu for safe passage across a lake that is over 800 feet deep at its deepest point. Over the years many photographs and even videos were taken, divers and even a submarine were lowered, but no Ogopogo has ever been found.

Flathead Lake is located in the northwest corner of Montana, about 30 miles from Glacier National Park. First sightings of the lake’s famous monster, lovingly called “Flossie,” date as far back as 1889, and since then many sightings of a 40-foot long, eel-like creature, said to be brown or blue-green in color with distinctive black eyes, have been reported from all kinds of people. Visitors are encouraged by members of the board of Flathead Lake to report anything they see.

Lake Memphremagog is a huge lake between Canada and the U.S., and is well known for completely freezing over in winter. The creature is described as either a giant sea horse or a crocodile, so it differs from the other lake monsters. The last reported sighting was in 2003, but no scientific proof of its existence has come to light.

Sightings of “Tahoe Tessie,” a serpent-like creature that lives in a tunnel beneath Cave Rock in Lake Tahoe, have been reported by hikers, locals, and water skiers. But the most spectacular and mysterious expedition was undertaken in the mid-1970s by Jacques Cousteau, who took a mini-submarine to the bottom of the 1,600-foot lake. On his return, he refused to release any footage, stating only that, “the world isn’t ready for what is down there”–and then never said a word about it again.