The biggest Loch Ness monster hunt recently took place

The Loch Ness Monster may not be real, but that doesn’t stop people from spending millions of dollars and a lot of time trying to prove its existence. Last weekend, officials at Scotland’s Loch Ness Center staged what is said to be the biggest search for the legendary creature in at least 50 years.

I remember reading about the Loch Ness Monster when I was a kid, and that old black and white photo of that long-necked creature coming out of the water captured my imagination and that of people all over the world. When that photo was discovered to be a fake, the legend of the monster died for me. If that photo was fake, then it was all fake because that’s the photo that started it all.

But Scotland must like the publicity so much that it is not yet willing to let go of the legend. Alan McKenna of Loch Ness Exploration said in a press release earlier this month:

“Our hope is to inspire a new generation of Loch Ness enthusiasts, and by joining this large-scale surface watch, you will have a real opportunity to contribute personally to this fascinating mystery that has enthralled so many people from around the world. “

The centre’s statement said: ‘As part of the activity weekend, the Loch Ness Center and LNE are looking for volunteers to take part in a giant lake surface observatory, keeping an eye out for water breaks and any unexplained movement. Each morning, Alan McKenna from the LNE will brief volunteers live from the Loch Ness Center on what to look for and how to record results; there will also be a daily debriefing from the redesigned center to review the day’s findings.”

He adds: ‘Over the weekend, surveying equipment that has never been used before on Loch Ness will be used to uncover the secrets of the mysterious waters. This includes thermal drones to produce thermal images of the water from the air using infrared cameras , as observing the heat from above could provide a crucial component in identifying any mysterious anomalies. Finally, a hydrophone will serve to detect acoustic signals underwater, listening for any Nessie calls, as well as further technology in the hunt for the truth.”

So if Lock Ness really exists, they would have found it last weekend. At present, evidence of Nessie’s existence has yet to be shared. If they did find something, though, you’d think they’d divulge that news.