Champ-Lake Monster: North American Folklore

Many are probably already familiar with the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately referred to as Nessie, but few are aware that America has its own storied lake monster.

Below the surface of Lake Champlain, the 490 square miles of lake that straddles the border of Vermont and New York, a monstrous serpent is said to haunt the waters. The legend predates European settlement in the area. Both Native American tribes that lived in the area, the Abenaki and the Iroquois, had told stories of a giant, snake like aquatic creature that prowled the lake.

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The creature is known as “Champ”. Many believe the large serpent is a relative of the plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile.

Many scientist believe the sightings of the so-called monster are in actuality oversized garfish, a needlefish known to reside in the lake. Although other researchers are not so certain. In 2003, research collected by the Fauna Communications Research Institute states that the recordings from below the water of Lake Champlain were consistent with sounds produced by dolphins or beluga whales, neither of which live in the lake. This, along with authentic video and photographic evidence, while not conclusive, lead many to believe that there may be truth in the legend of Champ.

With over 600 sightings reported over the years, the monster has made a big splash in the local culture of the towns around Lake Champlain. In the 1980s, legislature in both Vermont and New York began declaring the waters of Lake Champlain a safe, hunt free zone for Champ. Port Henry, NY, a village that lies on the shores of Lake Champlain, holds an annual Champ Day every August, where they celebrate the serpent.