Country file · Asia & the Middle East

Cryptids of Turkey

What cryptids are in Turkey? The best-known is Lake Van Monster.

Eastern Turkey’s cryptid is the Lake Van monster, said to inhabit a huge soda lake in the mountains. Old Armenian writers described water dragons (vishaps) in the lake, and an Ottoman newspaper reported a creature in 1889, but the modern phenomenon began in the 1990s with a debated 1997 video.

  • 1 cryptid
  • 4 recorded sightings

Cryptids reported in Turkey

Lake & sea monster · 1889

Lake Van Monster

Lake Van, eastern Turkey Turkey’s Loch Ness: a reported 15-metre creature in soda-rich Lake Van, with a city statue, a 1997 video and old Armenian dragon myths behind it. Local legend

The legends of Turkey

The monster has become part of the tourism of the city of Van, with a statue and a feature film, while sceptics point to tourism boosting and misidentified waves and boats.

Hotspots

  • Lake Van

    Turkey’s largest lake, home of the monster legend.

  • Akdamar Island

    Medieval Armenian church on an island in the lake.

Sightings timeline

  1. April 29, 1889
    Saadet newspaper story Lake Van Monster

    An Ottoman newspaper said a creature had dragged a man into the lake; an official survey found nothing.

  2. 1995
    Modern sightings begin Lake Van Monster

    Press and tourism interest surged; the government reportedly sent a survey party.

  3. 1997
    Kozak’s video Lake Van Monster

    Ünal Kozak released footage that was shown internationally and widely debated.

  4. 2009
    Feature film shot Lake Van Monster

    A comedy about shepherds faking a monster was shot to promote the region.

Nearby

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