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The Mythical Lake Monsters of the Northwest
Is Nessie's cousin living in one of Washington's most popular lakes?
This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.
If you think Scotland has a ‘loch’ on mythical lake creatures, you would be wrong. A number of Northwest lakes boast their own versions of Nessie
Lake Chelan Dragon: This creature, also known as the winged alligator snake, lives in Washington’s deepest lake (1,486 feet), has the legs and body of an alligator, the head and eyes of a serpent, sharp teeth, a long, scaly tail and bat-like wings. Some say it’s related to Scotland’s Nessie.
Ogopogo: A long-necked Canadian monster, Ogopogo is said to have a head that resembles a snake, sheep, horse, seal or alligator depending on who you’re talking to. It is purported to have a dark hump and greenish-black skin and is at home in the depths of 84-mile-long, 249-foot-deep Lake Okanagan in British Columbia.
Wally: Long, scaly and with sharp horns and a 3-foot head, this Wally, living in eastern Oregon’s Wallowa Lake, is a little bit different than the Pixar’s Wall-e, and is said to be a distant cousin of Ogopogo. The ancient yet speedy monster is hard to spot, but pause to listen, and you might hear its deep bellow reverberating through the pristine waters.
Sharlie: Often described as a cute, friendly monster, Sharlie lives near the bottom of Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho. Imagine a smiling green dragon, 30–40 feet long, that blends in like a sturgeon. Look for a plastic statue of Sharlie’s likeness on the shores of the lake.
Check out the rest of our feature on the best lakeside getaways in the Northwest here.
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