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WEEKEND ESCAPE: Loch Ness Monster, Real or Fake?

Brandon Plotnick Brandon Plotnick May 2nd
A view of the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, Scotland, April 19, 1934. The photograph, one of two pictures known as the 'surgeon's photographs,' was allegedly taken by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson, though it was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged by himself, Marmaduke and Ian Wetherell, and Wilson. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St. Columba's biography in 565 AD. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is, consequently, a popular tourist attraction. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

On May 2, 1933 the Loch Ness Monster became “known” to the public. A newspaper in Inverness, Scotland reported on a mystery sighting in the largest of the Scottish lochs (it’s a big lake).

While the legend dates back long before that Inverness Courier newspaper article appeared, it was that piece that made Nessie a part of our cultural lexicon.

There have been lots of claims about “finding” the real monster – or at least disproving its existence in the first place. Most notably in 1994 a study said the infamous photo everyone now recognizes, was a fake. But that still hasn’t eliminated the mystery of the big monster living in the Scottish lake.

What do you think? Is Nessie real? Check out all the photos below and let us know what YOU think!

 

PHOTO GALLERY: The Loch Ness Monster

  • Loch Ness Monster

    A view of the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, Scotland, April 19, 1934. The photograph, one of two pictures known as the 'surgeon's photographs,' was allegedly taken by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson, though it was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged by himself, Marmaduke and Ian Wetherell, and Wilson. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St. Columba's biography in 565 AD. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is, consequently, a popular tourist attraction. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

  • Loch Ness

    circa 1955: Ruins on the shores of Loch Ness where the fabled sea monster is said to appear from time to time. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St Columba's biography, 565 AD, where Adamnan describes St Columba preventing a creature in the Loch eating a Pict. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is a popular tourist attraction. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

  • Loch Ness

    circa 1930: Loch Ness in Scotland, which is famed for its mythical monster. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St Columba's biography of AD 565, where Adamnan describes St Columba preventing a creature in the Loch eating a Pict. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is a popular tourist attraction. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

  • Loch Ness

    July 1937: One of the largest of the Scottish lochs and home of the Loch Ness monster, Loch Ness in the Great Glen. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

  • “Loch Ness Monster” Found

    DRUMNADROCHIT, SCOTLAND - APRIL 13: John Haig an engineer monitors a Munin robot, operated by Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime in Loch Ness on April 13, 2016 in Drumnadrochit, Scotland The Norwegian company Kongsberg, which has been surveying the loch came across remains of a thirty metre model of the Loch Ness Monster, from the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, discovered down on the loch bed by the underwater robot. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

  • “Loch Ness Monster” Found

    DRUMNADROCHIT, SCOTLAND - APRIL 13: A Munin robot, operated by Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime is seen next to Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness on April 13, 2016 in Drumnadrochit, Scotland The Norwegian company Kongsberg, which has been surveying the loch came across remains of a thirty metre model of the Loch Ness Monster, from the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, discovered down on the loch bed by the underwater robot. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

  • Looking For Nessie?

    Visitors to Loch Ness in Scotland, perhaps in search of the fabled Loch Ness Monster, 7th July 1969. (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

  • Creating Nessie

    7th July 1969: Tom Davies creates a fibreglass model of the Loch Ness Monster for the film 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' beside Loch Ness in Scotland. The film is being directed by Billy Wilder, and stars Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely as Holmes and Watson. (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

  • Creating Nessie

    2nd July 1969: A fibreglass model of the Loch Ness Monster being made for the film 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes', UK. The film is being directed by Billy Wilder, and stars Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely as Holmes and Watson. (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

  • “Loch Ness Monster” Found

    DRUMNADROCHIT, SCOTLAND - APRIL 13: John Haig an engineer moves a Munin robot, operated by Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime in Loch Ness on April 13, 2016 in Drumnadrochit, Scotland The Norwegian company Kongsberg, which has been surveying the loch came across remains of a thirty metre model of the Loch Ness Monster, from the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, discovered down on the loch bed by the underwater robot. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

  • Visitors Take In The Ruins Surrounding Loch Ness

    DRUMNADROCHIT, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 30: A model of the Loch Ness monster stands outside a visitor centre on March 30, 2012 in Drumnadrochit, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

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