Lake Van Monster

AKA: Van Gölü Canavari (Turkish)
Statue of the Monster of Lake Van in the city of Van, Turkey
Creature
Grouping	Cryptid
Sub grouping	Lake monster
Data
First reported	1995
Country	Turkey
Region	Lake Van, Van
Habitat	Water
Status	Unconfirmed

The Lake Van Monster (Turkish: Van Gölü Canavari) was not reported until 1995 in Lake Van, a large alkaline lake in Eastern Turkey. There are now more than 1,000 people claiming to have witnessed the beast which is reported to measure around fifteen meters long with spikes on its back and appears similar to a Plesiosaur or Ichthyosaurus. Following these reports the Turkish government sent an official scientific survey group to the lake who failed to spot the creature.

In 1997 a local man, Unal Kozak, a teaching assistant at Van University, captured the creature on video which was sent for analysis. He has written a book about the monster. Yet his video is under constant criticism, with questions like why it never pans left, possibly because of a boat that may have carried the creature. Or why the monster only goes straight, instead of curving through the water. Even criticism as to why the breathing is not in and out, but a continuous release, much like the effects of an air hose.

A 4-meter high statue based on reported sightings has been erected to its honor in Van, Turkey.

Skeptics point out that the region would benefit from tourist revenue and a hoax might attract visitors.^[1]

See also

• Loch Ness Monster
• Lake monster
• Lake Van

References

1. ^ RJ (1997). "Sea monster or monster hoax? - June 12, 1997". CNN Interactive - World News. Retrieved on 2006-05-01.

External links

• Video footage of Lake Van Monster

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