The Storsjoodjuret is probably Sweden's most famous lake monster. This monster
has been seen in Lake Storsjon for XXXXXXXXXXXX)
In the 19th century, nearly all the witnesses described a "waterhorse", its
head surrounded by a long white mane floating in the water. Contemporary
witnesses don't seem to notice its horse-like head and mane. My Swedish
correspondent dryly describes the beast as a "camouflageon" - a hitherto unknown
species of highly developed amphibian chameleon.
Olle Mattsson, an antiquarian at the Ostersund museum, has spent the last two
years examining the museum's archives for historical observations of the
monster, to which he has added many interviews with modern witnesses. His
version of the "typical" monster is 10 to 16 feet long, 12 to 16 inches wide,
dark grey or black with a small head. "All evidence indicates that there is a
population [of the monsters]," he said. "They probably move together in a pack."
Although the local papers report two or three sightings every summer, Mr
Mattsson believes that most witnesses keep quiet out of fear of ridicule - which
seems rather odd, considering the large number of witnesses who have come
forward. This is probably a modern gloss on the old taboo against mentioning
encounters with the dangerous or unknown, especially to strangers.
In July 1996 the monster was caught on video by Gun-Britt Widmark, while
boating on the lake off Ostersund.
Whatever it was had humps and was 33 to 39 feet long.
Four people made a further sighting on July 22 from their verandah overlooking
the lake. They watched a long, wave-like movement in the water, like the wash of
a boat, though there was no boat in sight. Through binoculars they saw something
rolling up and down in the water, breaking the surface every three seconds. It
moved parallel with the Rodo bridge for a couple of minutes, then changed
direction by 90 degrees, finally diving and disappearing under the bridge. One
of them tried to capture the phenomenon on video, but it was too far away. Sten
Rentzhog, director of the local Ostersund museum, has collected nearly 500
accounts of Storsjoodjuret sightings dating back to 1635.
The folkloric explanation is that the lake monsters of this part of Sweden
are seasonal because they migrate from the Gulf of Bothnia, where they spend the
winter months, and it was said that sometimes in summer they were observed on
land moving between the various lakes. Incidentally, Dr Olsson wondered if the
monster might be an unknown species of giant seal, but readily admitted that
seals should have been more noticeable in the winter, and noted the lack of
breathing holes in the lake's ice.
In 1986, after 22 years of sporadic debate, the county administration of
Jamtland (the district which encompasses the lake) declared that anyone trying
to capture or kill the Storsjon monster could be prosecuted. The ruling had
taken such a long time because lawyers required an "official" Linnaean name for
the animal and naturally the zoological establishment would not acknowledge that
the creature existed.
No one could decide if the matter should be dealt with under the Game Act or the
Fishery Regulation Act. Scandinavian sophistry overcame the conundrum by
invoking the Nature Conservation Act, prohibiting any threat to the unknown
creature "while awaiting a determination of its species". This was prudent, as
descriptions of the monster have changed over the years.
A huge bird was said to have been killed by two Arizona
cowboys in 1890. There is reportedly a photograph of this creature which many
people over the years have claimed to have seen, though I wonder if this has
become an urban myth.
The usual description of the Thunderbird is of a dark, birdlike creature with
a wingspan of some 15 to 20 feet. It is sometimes described as having reptillian
features, which has led some to speculate that it might be some form of
surviving dinosaur. Sightings of the Thunderbird often coincide with storms, in
keeping with their mythical attribution. It's been suggested that the creature
might like to glide on the storm winds.
Some stories say that the Thunderbird is capable of carrying of animals -
possibly even people. During a famous sighting in 1977, a ten year old boy was
reportedly lifted from the ground and carried along for several fet before he
managed to struggle free.
If the Thunderbird does exist then it would be larger than any known bird
today. The ability to lift a ten year old boy from the ground would also make it
highly unusual. Many people are convinced that the Thunderbird is simply a
combination of legend, tall tales and misreporting.
