"Let's Find the Loch Ness Monster" Large-Scale Expedition... Hundreds of Volunteers Flock

Largest Search Since 1972
Heatwave and Drought Lower Water Levels... "A Golden Opportunity"

Hundreds of people have set out to find the legendary monster "Nessie" said to live in Loch Ness, Scotland, UK. This is reported to be the largest scale in 51 years.

AFP news agency and the UK BBC reported on the 25th (local time) that "nearly 300 people will participate in the search of Loch Ness taking place this weekend, from the 26th to the 27th."

This is considered the largest search operation since the massive investigation by the "Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau" in 1972, which involved various sectors of British society.

The search was planned by the local "Loch Ness Centre" and the autonomous research group "Loch Ness Exploration Team." Drones equipped with thermal scanners, boats with infrared cameras, and underwater hydrophones to detect sonar will be deployed.

Paul Nixon, director of the Loch Ness Centre, said, "There has been tremendous interest in our activities this weekend," adding, "It shows that people around the world are still fascinated by the stories of Loch Ness and Nessie."

Alan Mackay of the Loch Ness Exploration Team explained to the BBC, "We are looking for surface ripples, and we asked volunteers to observe the surface of Loch Ness and record all kinds of natural activities happening there."

The photo that made the Loch Ness Monster world-famous in 1934. However, it was later confirmed to be a hoax.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Loch Ness is a freshwater lake located in the Highlands of northwest Scotland, UK, approximately 37 km long and 2 km wide, making it the second largest lake in Scotland. Its depth is about 240 meters, and it is known to be primarily inhabited by salmon.

In particular, this lake has attracted worldwide attention as the legendary monster Nessie is said to inhabit it. Sightings of Nessie have been recorded since the 6th century, but it became widely famous from the early 20th century. In 1933, sightings by hotel manager Aldie Mackay and others were reported in the local newspaper Inverness Courier, bringing global attention to Nessie.

In 1934, a famous photograph showing a black object with a long neck protruding out of the lake caused a huge sensation. However, the photo was later revealed to be a hoax. Robert Wilson, who took the photo, confessed in 1993, saying, "I wanted to bring life back to the declining village."

In fact, as Nessie became famous, the Loch Ness area became a representative tourist attraction of Scotland, bringing significant revenue to the local economy.

According to the Loch Ness Centre, there are officially over 1,100 recorded sightings of Nessie. Most descriptions resemble a plesiosaur, a type of long-necked aquatic reptile, but the actual existence has never been confirmed to this day.

Meanwhile, the surge in volunteers for this Nessie search is also attributed to the fact that the water level of Loch Ness has significantly dropped due to extreme heatwaves and drought. This has created expectations for a perfect opportunity to capture Nessie.

The rainfall in the area where Loch Ness is located this year was only about one-third of the average. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issued water shortage warnings for some areas. As a result, nearby farms and factories used lake water for their water supply.

As of May, the water level of Loch Ness dropped to 190 cm, the lowest since 1990. Local media reported, "The record-breaking heatwave and drought may solve the legend of Loch Ness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.