To 150 km in the north of Glasgow, is spread out over a surface of 80 km square (40 km out of 2 km) one of the most known lakes : the Ness Log. Of a very stable temperature (it varies from less than one degree each year), the underwater visibility is very low there, because of peat particles in suspension. The famous legend is certainly due to the fact that the area accomodated Vikings, who adored the marine monsters (until putting some on the prow of the drakkars).
Already in 565, a history reported that a saint would have driven out a monster of the lake, but the legend is really born at the XIXème century, when aristocrats observe « monsters with head of horse », and that one prohibits the bathe with the children. In the Thirties, the legend takes a world turning and the tourists come many.
At the time, deep-sea diving is impossible, and there is not a sonar. One is thus satisfied to observe surface, to watch for the monster. Many photographs will be taken, but they are never very clear. One melts then the Log Ness Investigation ffice, charged to centralize testimonys. According to witnesses', the creature moves quickly and has the uneven back.
Image taken by a sonarThe invention of the sonar during the second world war makes it possible to probe water of the lake. In September 1968, one detects an object moving under water with 25 km/h. It is a vain joy : it probably acts of a fish bench. However, a disconcerting image will be obtained (see opposite), and it will be interpreted like the face of the monster drawn at side. But it is perhaps a rock... At this point in time one launches out in an exploration by submarine. But boggy water of the lake does not make it possible to see large thing...
The new track is to study the organic remainders at the bottom of the lake. Because unless Nessie, as it now is called, has alone been captured in the lake when the access to the sea was naturally stopped, one should find corpses, if there were monsters. Tests of dredging of the lake started...
And then, in which category to classify the monster ? Reptile ? Not, because the lake is too cold, and the monster should go up to breathe on the surface, and should also go for walks on the ground closes to lay. Mammals ? Either, for the same reasons. Poisson ? It is the assumption most biologically probable. But descriptions are moved away too much, except some which speak about a giant eel. Perhaps then a prehistoric animal. Because descriptions which one does have of Nessie it make strongly resemble the coelacanth, of which the last fossil has 70 million years.
Though it is, only one thing is sure : Nessie brings a lot of tourists to the area...

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(advertisement for Jura's mountains : « If we didn't find Log Ness' monster yet, it's because we didn't look for it in the good lake. »)