By lake monsters most people mean huge, so far unknown animals living in lakes.  These lake monsters only surface occasionally to allow somebody to take a blurry photo that appears to show something that could be a plesiosaur.    Or possibly an otter.  Or an old tyre.  Or a beginner’s efforts with either Photoshop or a pair of scissors and some Pritstick.   They always hide whenever a scientist, a newspaper team, or somebody with a reliable camera is in the vicinity. 

So, do they exist?  The chances, sadly, are probably not.  The idea that massive mysterious beasts are living in lakes and lochs is exciting, and romantic in a way.  However there are a number of reasons why they are more likely to be a myth.

They haven’t been found.  Yes lakes can be big but they are not that big.  Monstrous animals can hide in the oceans, and in fact several enormous animals have only recently been properly documented (the megamouth shark at 16 feet was only discovered in 1976, the giant squid at 40+ feet was only filmed alive in 2004).  In a well studied lake such as Loch Ness – well they are doing a darn good job of hiding.

Eye witness testimony is notoriously unreliable.  In this context something seen briefly, possibly when perspective is somewhat skewed as it frequently is when you are on the water, may not be observed with any great accuracy.  After the story has been told a few times decorations, elaborations and distortions will occur, usually with the teller being utterly unaware of doing this.  What was actually an otter gets bigger, stranger, closer and exhibits very odd behaviour.

Many people are suggestible.  If you are expecting to see something this makes it quite likely that something vaguely similar will be misinterpreted.  You expect to see a monster.  An old tyre with a passing resemblance to a monster’s head becomes a monster.  Our perception is not reliable, seeing with your own eyes may not always be the ultimate proof you think it is.

However in order not to ruin the fun I will admit there might just be something in this and here are three possible explanations for the large number of sightings in Loch Ness since it is the most famous example..

Number One:  What has been explained above – there are no monsters.   There is just an expectation of monsters, and some easily influenced observers.

Number Two:  There are large unknown animals there, their extraordinarily low profile is an adaptation evolved to escape predation (probably by us) which is the reason they have survived.  They could be descendents of plesiosaurs, perhaps relatives of octopi (fresh water krakens in other words), mammals or something as yet unknown.

Number Three: They do exist but are not there all the time.  Basically they pass from another dimension into ours occasionally.  [not when scientists are present].

Number One is of course the most boring explanation and tediously the most likely.  The other two are far more interesting and personally I would rather one of these turned out to be the case.  It is up to you which your money is on, and until, if ever, a monster is found the question will remain an open one.