Lake Champlain Champ

An inland water monster that has never been hooked, though reportedly several times seen, is an elusive creature dwelling in 100-mile-long Lake Champlain, which links Vermont and New York State with Canada. One of the first descriptions of it was made on August 30, 1878, by six people on a small yacht.

What they saw was an extraordinary living thing with, as one observer said, "two large folds just back of the head projecting above the water, and at some distance, say 50 feet or more behind, two or more folds at what was apparently the tail."

Later this monster-or perhaps a descendant-would become known as Champ. It has consistently been reported over the years.

Some people believe that Champ is legend, while others believe that perhaps some unknown species of creature does live deep in the lake. The state government of Vermont has put Champ on its Endangered Species List, so that, if an unknown water animal is present, it will be protected by law.