If my readers recall, Lana and I visited Scotland for our 30th anniversary and we had a blast. We visited St. Andrews, Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburg Castle (complete with tea), and much more. I even got a picture of me wearing a kilt standing next the River Ness in Inverness! Great memories, indeed. One of our favorite spots was Loch Ness. We drove around much of the loch (which is quite a trip given the loch is about 24 miles long). Unfortunately, we didn’t see Nessie, the most famous of water creatures, but it was still an amazing visit.
American Water Creatures:
Chessie:
Why am I bring up Nessie and Loch Ness? Did you know in the United States, we have sightings of our American versions of Nessie! Probably the most famous of the American unknown water creatures is Chessie. Said to reside in the Chesapeake Bay, Chessie was first sighted in 1936 by a military helicopter. Since then, there have been more sightings, including one that turned out to be a manatee! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses Chessie in their efforts to raise awareness of the Chesapeake Bay area and the need to protect its resources. I couldn’t find a picture of Chessie.
Champ:
Similarly, Lake Champlain on the New York – Vermont border (and extending into Quebec, CA) has Champ or Champy. Champ was first sighted in 1819, when a Captain Crum claimed to see a sea serpent and the account made the local newspaper. Other sightings were reported and prompted P. T. Barnum to offer a reward for anyone who could bring him the monster. Apparently, he never had to pay the reward. Like Chessie, I couldn’t find a good picture of Champ to share.
Altamaha-ha:
My favorite of the American creatures is Altamaha-ha! This creature lives in the Altamaha River in Southeast Georgia near Darien. The river, which empties into the Atlantic near Brunswick, GA, is the third largest fresh water source feeding into the Atlantic. According to local legend, Altamaha-ha is 20-30 feet long, with the head of a snake. Others describe it as a mix between an alligator, a sturgeon, and a seal.
I’m sure there are legends of other water creatures in the U. S. and around the world. Please forgive me if I didn’t mention your favorite. While Nessie remains the most famous of them, I thought these others deserved a mention.
What do you think? Are these just myths or are they real? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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