Beyond the Veil Magazine

The Lake Champlain Monster

Issue #43: July 1982

Lake Champlain, the long body of water that separates Vermont from New York State, has its own legendary monster. Locals call it “Champ,” and sightings have been reported for more than a century.

Last year’s remarkable photograph has brought fresh attention to this enduring mystery.

The Lake

Lake Champlain is one of the largest freshwater lakes in North America. It extends approximately 120 miles in length and covers over 400 square miles. At its deepest point, it reaches more than 400 feet.

The lake was formed by glacial activity some 10,000 years ago. Its waters are dark, its depths largely unexplored. It connects to the Atlantic via the Richelieu River and has been home to diverse fish species, including sturgeon that can grow to over seven feet in length.

The lake provides ample habitat for a large, unknown creature.

Historical Sightings

The earliest written account dates from 1609, when the explorer Samuel de Champlain allegedly observed a creature in the lake that now bears his name. This account is disputed by some historians.

Native American traditions describe a creature in the lake called “Tatoskok,” suggesting observations long before European arrival.

Reported sightings increased significantly in the nineteenth century:

1819: Workmen reported a large creature with a long neck near Port Henry.

1873: A railway crew observed an enormous serpentine animal cross the lake’s surface.

1883: A sheriff reported a creature 25-30 feet long with two folds or humps in the water.

By the early twentieth century, Champ had become a regional legend, featured in newspaper stories and local folklore.

The Mansi Photograph

On July 5, 1977, Sandra Mansi photographed something remarkable in the shallow waters near St. Albans, Vermont. The photograph shows what appears to be a dark, plesiosaur-like creature with a long neck rising from the water.

Mansi, vacationing with her family, spotted the creature while standing on the shore. She retrieved her camera and took a single photograph before the creature submerged. The family fled in fear.

The photograph remained in a drawer for three years before Mansi showed it to researchers. It has since become the most famous image of the Lake Champlain monster.

Photographic analysis has been inconclusive. Some experts believe the image shows a genuine animal of unknown species. Others suggest it might be a floating log, a diving bird, or an optical illusion. The original negative has been lost, complicating analysis.

Scientific Interest

Unlike many cryptid claims, the Lake Champlain monster has attracted serious scientific attention.

Dr. Joseph Zarzynski, a marine biologist, has conducted systematic surveys of the lake since the 1970s. He has documented dozens of credible sightings and advocates for scientific investigation of the creature.

In 1981, the Lake Champlain Phenomena Investigation was established to study the monster systematically. Researchers have deployed sonar equipment and underwater cameras, though no definitive evidence has been obtained.

Both Vermont and New York have passed resolutions protecting “Champ” from harm, a curious legal status for a creature whose existence remains unproven.

What Could It Be?

Several theories attempt to explain the sightings:

Surviving Plesiosaur: The classic explanation holds that a population of prehistoric marine reptiles survived in the lake. But plesiosaurs were air-breathers; a resident population would be seen surfacing regularly.

Giant Sturgeon: Lake sturgeon can grow to seven feet or more. From certain angles, a large sturgeon might resemble a monster. But sturgeon do not have long necks.

Misidentified Animals: Logs, swimming deer, groups of otters, or large fish might be mistaken for an unknown creature under certain conditions.

Unknown Species: The lake might harbour a species genuinely unknown to science: a large eel, an unusual fish, or an undiscovered aquatic mammal.

The Pattern

Sightings of Champ follow patterns common to lake monster reports worldwide:

• Long necks and humped backs are frequently described
• Sightings typically occur in calm conditions
• Duration is usually brief: seconds to minutes
• Multiple witnesses are common
• Photographic and video evidence is rare and ambiguous

Whether these patterns indicate a genuine phenomenon or shared mythology is debated.

The Mystery Continues

Lake Champlain is vast, deep, and dark. Its waters could conceal almost anything. Systematic investigation has barely begun.

The Mansi photograph remains unexplained. Eyewitness reports continue to accumulate. And somewhere in those cold depths, something may be swimming that we do not yet understand.

Champ has become part of the regional identity, celebrated in festivals and protected by law. But beneath the tourism and folklore lies a genuine mystery.

Something is being seen in Lake Champlain. What it is, we do not know.

Readers who have observed unusual creatures in lakes or other bodies of water are invited to contact our research department.