Loch Ness monster | History, Sightings, & Facts

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mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loch-Ness-monster-legendary-creature/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loch-Ness-monster-legendary-creature/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/196402-050-044E396D/Photograph-image-Loch-Ness-monster-surgeon-hoax-1934.jpg" data-href="/media/1/345688/226693" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/196402-004-A44AD7BC/Photograph-image-Loch-Ness-monster-surgeon-hoax-1934.jpg" alt="Loch Ness monster: “surgeon's photograph”" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-050-6CEA9F21/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg" data-href="/media/1/345688/13204" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-004-BAB4A93F/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg" alt="Loch Ness, Scotland" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 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href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/196402-050-044E396D/Photograph-image-Loch-Ness-monster-surgeon-hoax-1934.jpg" data-href="/media/1/345688/226693">Loch Ness monster: “surgeon's photograph”</a> <span><span>Photograph that allegedly showed the Loch Ness monster, 1934. The image, known as the “surgeon's photograph,” was later revealed to be a hoax.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Loch Ness monster</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">legendary creature</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="345688"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2 text-nowrap" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <a class="js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" href="/print/article/345688" target="_blank" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="print"></em> Print </a> </div> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=345688] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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Hundreds join huge search for Loch Ness Monster</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1073&context=csbsresearchconf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">UNI ScholarWorks - Loch Ness Monster and Her Impact on Culture (PDF)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Loch-Ness-Monster-Sightings-On-Land/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Historic UK - The Loch Ness Monster On Land</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/25/world/europe/loch-ness-monster-search-timeline.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The New York Times - The 1,300-Year Search for the Loch Ness Monster: A Timeline</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/news/could-nessie-loch-ness-monster-be-giant-15-foot-eel-probably-not-005120" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - Could Nessie the Loch Ness Monster be a giant, 15-foot Eel?</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/258466a0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Nature - Naming the Loch Ness monster</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/21/1195016459/monster-hunters-largest-search-for-the-loch-ness-monster-in-50-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">NPR - Monster hunters are conducting the largest search of Loch Ness in more than 50 years</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lochness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">PBS - NOVA - The Beast of Loch Ness</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.livescience.com/26341-loch-ness-monster.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">LiveScience - Loch Ness Monster: Facts About Nessie</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Loch-Ness-monster/631551" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loch Ness monster - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Nessie</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Amy Tikkanen</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Amy Tikkanen</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-07T00:00:00CST" >Feb 7, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loch-Ness-monster-legendary-creature/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname: </dt> <dd>Nessie</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>On the Web: </dt> <dd><a href="https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1073&context=csbsresearchconf" target="_blank">UNI ScholarWorks - Loch Ness Monster and Her Impact on Culture (PDF)</a> (Feb. 07, 2025)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1249106"></span>Loch Ness monster</strong>, large marine <span id="ref1249152"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/monster-mythology" class="md-crosslink ">creature</a> believed by some people to inhabit <span id="ref1249154"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Loch-Ness-lake-Scotland-United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Loch Ness</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Scotland</a>. However, much of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alleged" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleged" data-type="MW">alleged</a> evidence supporting its existence has been discredited, and it is widely thought that the monster is a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="myth" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myth" data-type="MW">myth</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Reports of a monster inhabiting Loch Ness date back to ancient times. Notably, local stone carvings by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pict" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pict</a> depict a mysterious beast with flippers. The first written account appears in a 7th-century biography of <span id="ref1249153"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Columba" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">St. Columba</a>. According to that work, in 565 <span class="text-smallcaps">ad</span> the monster bit a swimmer and was prepared to attack another man when Columba intervened, ordering the beast to “go back.” It obeyed, and over the centuries only occasional sightings were reported. Many of these alleged encounters seemed inspired by Scottish <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/folklore-academic-discipline" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">folklore</a>, which abounds with mythical water creatures.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="13204" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-050-6CEA9F21/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/345688/13204"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-050-6CEA9F21/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-050-6CEA9F21/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg?w=300" alt="Loch Ness, Scotland" data-width="1066" data-height="751" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/2977-050-6CEA9F21/Loch-Ness-Highlands-of-Scotland-head-monastery.jpg" data-href="/media/1/345688/13204">Loch Ness, Scotland</a><span>Loch Ness, in the Highlands of Scotland. At the head of the loch is the monastery at Fort Augustus.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1933 the Loch Ness monster’s <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="legend" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legend" data-type="MW">legend</a> began to grow. At the time, a road <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adjacent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjacent" data-type="MW">adjacent</a> to Loch Ness was finished, offering an unobstructed view of the lake. In April a couple saw an enormous animal—which they compared to a “dragon or prehistoric monster”—and after it crossed their car’s path, it disappeared into the water. The incident was reported in a Scottish newspaper, and numerous sightings followed. In December 1933 the <em><span id="ref1280846"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Daily-Mail" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Daily Mail</a></em> commissioned <span id="ref1249155"></span>Marmaduke Wetherell, a big-game hunter, to locate the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sea-serpent" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sea serpent</a>. Along the lake’s shores, he found large footprints that he believed belonged to “a very powerful soft-footed animal about 20 feet [6 metres] long.” However, upon closer inspection, zoologists at the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Natural-History-Museum-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Natural History Museum</a> determined that the tracks were identical and made with an umbrella stand or ashtray that had a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hippopotamus-mammal-species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hippopotamus</a> leg as a base; Wetherell’s role in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/hoax" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">hoax</a> was unclear.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The news only seemed to spur efforts to prove the monster’s existence. In 1934 English physician <span id="ref1249156"></span>Robert Kenneth Wilson photographed the alleged creature. The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="iconic" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconic" data-type="MW">iconic</a> image—known as the “surgeon’s photograph”—appeared to show the monster’s small head and neck. The <em>Daily Mail</em> printed the photograph, sparking an international sensation. Many speculated that the creature was a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/plesiosaur" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plesiosaur</a>, a marine reptile that went extinct some 65.5 million years ago.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Loch Ness area attracted numerous monster hunters. Over the years, several <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/sonar" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sonar</a> explorations (notably in 1987 and 2003) were undertaken to locate the creature, but none were successful. In addition, numerous photographs allegedly showed the beast, but most were discredited as fakes or as depicting other animals or objects. Notably, in 1994 it was revealed that Wilson’s photograph was a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="hoax" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/hoax" data-type="EB">hoax</a> spearheaded by a revenge-seeking Wetherell; the “monster” was actually a plastic-and-wooden head attached to a toy submarine. In 2018 researchers conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness to determine what organisms live in the waters. No signs of a plesiosaur or other such large animal were found, though the results indicated the presence of numerous eels. This finding left open the possibility that the monster is an oversized eel. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the Loch Ness monster remained popular—and profitable. In the early 21st century it was thought that it contributed nearly $80 million annually to Scotland’s economy.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393">Amy Tikkanen</a></span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":345688,"pageLength":506,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Loch Ness monster | History, Sightings, & Facts | Britannica