Stories about a shadowy creature living in Loch Ness aren’t new. These stories have existed for centuries. But the legend really took off in 1933. That’s when a woman named Aldie Mackay said she spotted a whale-like monster. She claimed it was thrashing around in the lake.

Many people didn’t believe her story. But others were fascinated. They flocked to the lake to see for themselves. 

Over the years, hundreds of people claimed to have seen Nessie. That’s the nickname of the Loch Ness monster. Some of those claims were proved to be false. Take the most famous photo of the creature, for example. Many people believed the 1934 image was proof that Nessie is real. But it turned out to be a hoax.  

Still, others swear they’ve seen Nessie. They say their blurry photos prove it. This keeps the myth alive, explains Adrian Shine. He’s an expert on Loch Ness.

“The more fuzzy or distant a photograph is, the more you can speculate,” Shine says.

People have come up with several theories about Nessie. One is that the creature is a plesiosaur. That’s a kind of reptile. Plesiosaurs died out 66 million years ago. But some people believe a relative could be living in Loch Ness. 

Most scientists say that’s unlikely. No plesiosaur bones have been found in the lake. Plus, there aren’t enough fish in Loch Ness for a plesiosaur to eat. Without food, how could a giant reptile survive?

Shine says there’s a better explanation. He believes people aren’t seeing a monster. He says they are probably seeing a waterbird, a large eel, or some other animal.

There’s no scientific proof that the Loch Ness monster is real. But the public’s fascination with Nessie has not died down. Thousands of people visit the area each year. They tour the lake. They also visit a nearby Nessie-themed amusement park.

Scientists and monster hunters have been studying Loch Ness for decades. Last August’s hunt was the most high-tech ever. Volunteers used heat-sensing drones and a device called a hydrophone that can detect underwater sounds. The group had hoped to record Nessie’s calls.

The search didn’t turn up any concrete proof that the Loch Ness monster exists. But Nessie fans aren’t ready to give up. 

“People want to believe,” says Shine. 

Scientists and monster hunters have been studying Loch Ness for decades. Last August’s hunt was the most high-tech ever. Volunteers used heat-sensing drones. They also had a device called a hydrophone. It can detect underwater sounds. The group had hoped to record Nessie’s calls.

The search didn’t turn up any concrete proof that the Loch Ness monster exists. But Nessie fans aren’t ready to give up. 

“People want to believe,” says Shine. 

1. Why might a fuzzy or faraway photograph make it easier to speculate about Nessie’s existence?
2. What were the results of this summer’s search for Nessie?
3. What does Loch Ness monster expert Adrian Shine mean when he says that “people want to believe”?

1. Why might a fuzzy or faraway photograph make it easier to speculate about Nessie’s existence?
2. What were the results of this summer’s search for Nessie?
3. What does Loch Ness monster expert Adrian Shine mean when he says that “people want to believe”?