The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is part of a famous tale about a sea monster that lives in Loch Ness, Scotland.
According to Scottish folklore, a monster known as Nessie, or the Loch Ness Monster, lurks in a lake called Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, sightings of her may go back to the Pict (ancient people who lived in eastern Scotland), as stone carvings of a “mysterious beast with flippers” have been discovered.
The earliest written mention of the legend comes from the year 565, when a man known as Saint Columba spotted a monster in Loch Ness that was going to attack a man swimming in the lake. Legend has it that Columba successfully commanded the monster to retreat, according to PBS.
In the 1930s, the legend of the Loch Ness Monster grew in popularity – and though some scientists claim the Loch Ness Monster may be a giant eel, the legend is still widely held onto today. In fact, Nessie has been estimated to bring Scotland £40.7 million ($50.6 million) in tourism money annually.
