The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is a legendary creature that is said to live in Loch Ness, a large lake in Scotland. It is often described as a large, long-necked, and hump-backed animal that swims in the water. Some people believe that Nessie is a prehistoric reptile, such as a plesiosaur, that survived extinction. Others think that Nessie is a hoax, a misidentification of natural phenomena, or a product of imagination.

The first recorded sighting of Nessie dates back to the 6th century, when a monk named Adomnán wrote about a monster that attacked a man in the river Ness. However, Nessie became famous worldwide in 1933, when a couple reported seeing a huge beast crossing the road near the lake. Since then, many people have claimed to see Nessie or have taken photos or videos of it. However, most of these evidence have been proven to be fake, blurry, or inconclusive. Some scientific expeditions have also tried to find Nessie using sonar, underwater cameras, or DNA analysis, but none of them have found any definitive proof of its existence.

Nessie is a popular icon of Scottish culture and tourism, and has inspired many books, movies, and games. Some people are fascinated by the mystery and the possibility of discovering a new species, while others are skeptical and dismissive of the legend. Nessie remains one of the most famous and controversial cryptids, or animals whose existence is disputed or unconfirmed, in the world.