Crypto-Zoology is a field of study designed to investigate and find animals that have not been proven to exist. One of their most popular searches is for the Loch Ness monster in Scotland’s Loch Ness. Another famous monster also lives in Scotland and is the focus for discovery. This is Loch Morar’s Morag.

The first documented sighting of this creature was in 1887. There have been no less than 35 reported “encounters” with this animal (if we are to believe them). Morag has been described as being about 20 feet long, and serpent like in appearance.

In 1969 a dramatic encounter (supposedly) took place between the Morag and 2 men. Duncan McDonnell and his companion, William Simpson were in a speed boat when they struck something. To their surprise, it struck back. Duncan tried to hit it with an oar, and William opened fire with a rifle. At that point the creature vanished. They did claim to not only see its body, which was long and scaly, but they said it raised its head 18 inches above the water.
In 1977 Miss Lindsay claimed to take two photographs showing the creature moving. Indeed the pictures do show two different shapes which could be a moving creature, but the pictures have not been considered as proof of the Morags existance.

Loch Morar

Loch Morar is a fresh water “lake” in Highland, Scotland. It is extremely deep, in fact at over 1,100 feet deep,it is the deepest loch in the British Isles. A loch being the Scottish name for Lake. It is 12 miles long, has five islands, and very steep sides. Much of Loch Morar is unreachable by road.

Explanations

There are several possible explanations for the sightings of such creatures. The most obvious, being that they are made up, the result of alcohol or people seeking attention.

It is possible that the animal is a distant relative of prehistoric animals and is surviving on fish and vegetation within the lake.

There may be several other smaller animals (fish or mammals) responsible for the sightings, such as undiscovered inland seals or eels.

Another theory, again holding the monster as very real, connects it with the more famous Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. In this theory, there is a deep passage connecting the two lochs and the creature can swim between them. In fact investigators for the Loch Ness Monster are also searching for Morag.

In another theory, these lochs are tidal in nature. On certain times of the day, when the moon is aligned correctly (the moon influences the tides) a ripple on the surface of the long lock would appear to be the back and humps of a live, swimming, animal.

Reference http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/cryptozoology/lake-monsters.html