The Loch Ness Monster

This episode of Forgotten Mysteries explores the enduring enigma of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called “Nessie.” The story traces its origins to a 6th-century account of St. Columba confronting a water beast, but the modern legend began in the 1930s with a surge of eyewitness reports and the famous—but later debunked—“Surgeon’s Photograph.”

Listeners are taken through decades of sightings, investigations, and theories, from sonar scans showing unexplained shapes to speculation about plesiosaurs, giant eels, or simple misidentifications. While skeptics point to hoaxes and psychological phenomena, the mystery persists.

Beyond science, Nessie has become a cultural icon, fueling tourism, inspiring media, and embedding itself in Scottish identity. Whether a misunderstood animal, a hoax, or a relic of the past, Nessie symbolizes humanity’s desire to believe in the extraordinary.