Nessie: Sea Creature or Creature of the Imagination

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Nessie: Sea Creature or Creature of the Imagination Deep down in a Scottish lake named Loch Ness lays a monster...Or does it? For centuries there have been debates about whether a creature called the Loch Ness Monster, and affectionately referred to as Nessie, is truly a dinosaur-like sea creature or just a figment of people’s over active imagination. The earliest report of a monster associated with the vicinity of Loch Ness appears in the Life of St. Columba by Adomnán, written sometime during the 7th century (Carruth 33-35). Although various other alleged sightings have been made since that time most of are thought to be highly dubious and modern interest did not spark until July 22, 1933. On that date, George Spicer and his wife claimed to have saw “a most extraordinary form of animal” cross the road in front of their car (Campbell). In April of 1934 probably the most famous, or should I say infamous, photograph of the Loch Ness Monster was printed by Dr. Robert Wilson in which a Nessie’s head was above the water of Loch Ness unfortunately in 1992 scientists were able to determine that the photograph was a fake. “Apparently, a hunter named Marmaduke Wetherell and his step-son built a model of the famous loch beast using a 14” toy submarine with a long-neck attachment (O'Toole). The picture was printed in The Daily Mail and nobody questioned its authenticity at the time because a well-respected doctor had submitted it. The next notable photograph of Nessie was taken in 1955 was taken by Mr. McNabb who captured an image of a ripple in the water of Loch Ness somewhere near the Urquhart Castle. The picture is thought to be one of the clearest of Nessie (or what has been purported to be Nessie) (O'Toole). The photo definitely shows something moving in the water but is it Nessie or some other more commonplace critters such as eels, seals or otters? Since

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