Post by Matt Costa on Jul 1, 2006 19:28:45 GMT -5
"Champ"
This month’s Creature featured, is none other than the Lake Champlain lake monster “Champ”. Which is one of the few Crypto-creatures to be on the endangered species list; which was placed there by the state of Vermont so that if indeed he/she exists then it would be protected by law(makes sense!).
Although the creature has never been authoritatively documented, those who live in and around Port Henry, NY would say otherwise. “Champ” resides in the 109 to 125-mile long body of water that is shared by New York and Vermont.
The first account of “Champ” was made by Samuel de Champlain in 1609, a French explorer, who is the founder of Quebec and named after the lake. Champlain reported seeing the creature while in battle with the Iroquois on the banks of the lake. He is said to have seen a 20-30 foot serpent that was as “thick as a barrel and a head of a horse.” but many believe what Camplain saw on that day was more likely a large sturgeon or a gar. However the Native American population did speak of such a creature and celebrated its existence and was called the “Tatoskok” by the Abenaki people. Sightings of the beast lay dormant until 1883 when Sheriff Nathan Mooney claimed he had seen a “gigantic water serpent” off the shore. He said that “ the creature appeared to be 25-30 feet long” and was so close he could see “ round white spots inside the mouth”. His sighting led to others coming forward with their accounts over 240 eyewitnesses reported seeing “Champ” at that point.
Reports to this date have reached an untold number. In 1977, Sandra Mansi toke what is said to be the most remarkable photo of “Champ” (pictured above). Some scientist believe that “Champ” may in fact be a plesiosaur not unlike its Scottish cousin “Nessie”. Believed to be a Plesiosaurs they were marine reptiles with long necks, a bulky body, four fins and a long tail. They have been supposedly extinct since the age of the dinosaurs ended some 65 million years ago.
The love of “Champ” has been embraced by much of the area with a statue erected in Port Henry and local baseball team named the Vermont Lake Monsters, a primary attraction of the lake area. Whatever the Lake Champlain monster might be whether its just a large fish, plesiosaur or pure folklore, it is still an enticing legend and will be for years to come.
[/size]Although the creature has never been authoritatively documented, those who live in and around Port Henry, NY would say otherwise. “Champ” resides in the 109 to 125-mile long body of water that is shared by New York and Vermont.
The first account of “Champ” was made by Samuel de Champlain in 1609, a French explorer, who is the founder of Quebec and named after the lake. Champlain reported seeing the creature while in battle with the Iroquois on the banks of the lake. He is said to have seen a 20-30 foot serpent that was as “thick as a barrel and a head of a horse.” but many believe what Camplain saw on that day was more likely a large sturgeon or a gar. However the Native American population did speak of such a creature and celebrated its existence and was called the “Tatoskok” by the Abenaki people. Sightings of the beast lay dormant until 1883 when Sheriff Nathan Mooney claimed he had seen a “gigantic water serpent” off the shore. He said that “ the creature appeared to be 25-30 feet long” and was so close he could see “ round white spots inside the mouth”. His sighting led to others coming forward with their accounts over 240 eyewitnesses reported seeing “Champ” at that point.
Reports to this date have reached an untold number. In 1977, Sandra Mansi toke what is said to be the most remarkable photo of “Champ” (pictured above). Some scientist believe that “Champ” may in fact be a plesiosaur not unlike its Scottish cousin “Nessie”. Believed to be a Plesiosaurs they were marine reptiles with long necks, a bulky body, four fins and a long tail. They have been supposedly extinct since the age of the dinosaurs ended some 65 million years ago.
The love of “Champ” has been embraced by much of the area with a statue erected in Port Henry and local baseball team named the Vermont Lake Monsters, a primary attraction of the lake area. Whatever the Lake Champlain monster might be whether its just a large fish, plesiosaur or pure folklore, it is still an enticing legend and will be for years to come.
- thanks. >^o.o^<
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