Loch Ness is a place where fact and folklore are inextricably linked. Geologically, it sits in the Great Glen Fault, a massive crack in the earth’s crust that effectively splits the Highlands in two. It is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area (after Loch Lomond), but because of its extreme depth—reaching 230 metres (755 feet)—it is the largest by volume. In fact, it contains more fresh water than every lake, reservoir, and river in England and Wales combined.

The “Monster” legend is the Loch’s most famous export, but the first recorded sighting dates back nearly 1,500 years. In 565 AD, Saint Columba was traveling through the Great Glen when he encountered a “water beast” attacking a man in the River Ness. According to his biographer, Adamnan, Columba raised his hand, made the sign of the cross, and commanded the beast to “go back with all speed.” The creature allegedly fled, marking the beginning of a legend that would lie dormant until the 20th century.

The modern “Nessie” phenomenon exploded in 1933 when a local couple, the Mackays, reported seeing an enormous creature splashing in the water. This led to the famous “Surgeon’s Photograph” of 1934, which showed a long neck rising from the depths. Although that specific photo was proven to be a hoax in 1994 (it was a toy submarine with a plastic head), the mystery remains fueled by the Loch’s unique properties. The water is perpetually cold and thick with peat, making visibility nearly zero just a few feet below the surface.

Loch Ness is also a site of high-speed history. In 1952, John Cobb attempted to break the world water speed record on the Loch in his jet-powered boat, Crusader. He reached speeds of over 200 mph before the boat hit a mysterious wake and disintegrated, killing Cobb. A memorial to his bravery stands on the banks near Castle Urquhart. Today, the Loch remains a vital part of the Caledonian Canal system and continues to draw millions of visitors who hope to catch a glimpse of what might be hiding in its dark, peat-stained depths.