LAKE MONSTERS

Lake Monsters Loch Ness, in Scotland, is the reputed home of a monster that has been chronicled, with varying degrees6of credibility, over the past 1,400 years. The loch is teh largest mass of freshwater in Britain and perhaps the most sinister, even when the sun shines on its murky, peat-stained waters. Those waters are so deep - more than 900 feet in parts - that they would engulf most of the world's tallest buildings. Some of the stories about Loch Ness appear equally tall.

The Wallowa Lake Legend Two monsters have been sighted in Wallowa lake. One is described as being about 11-12 feet long, and the other about 8 feet. The longer one has been described as a chinese dragon, but with the head of a hog. Others describe it as a shark or a fish, but without a dorsal fin and a rounded nose. The smaller is usually described as having the head of a buffalo, and eyes 14 inches apart. The legend of Wahluna and Tlesca are the first mention of the monster. Red Dog had a daughter, named Wahluna, and they lived peacefully on the shores of the Wallowa. But Blackfeet Indians came and a war between the two tribes ensued. Red Dog's tribe was small, and ill-prepared, but they fought bravely. Soon only old men, women, and children were left. So Wahluna quietly paddled over to the Blackfeet camp. The Blackfeet did not notice her until she spoke up at their campfire, "You have killed all of our braves, you have taken all the scalps of the youth, but leave the elders. Tomorrow you will defeat us, but your warriors cries of victory will be drowned out by our women's cries of sorrow and mourning. I beg you to please spare us." With that Wahluna laid her face in the sand and did not move. Up spoke Tlesca, the young chief of the Blackfeet, "Your people are brave, and I do not want this battle to go on," and he placed his robe on Wahluna's shoulders. Tlesca's father, the older chief was angry, "Her tribe are all dogs! We should fight and kill them! Remove your robe from her shoulders so that she may die too!" But Tlesca refused to and spoke out again, "Her tribe fight even though they are outnumbered. They have no food, and stagger when they run because they are weak." The older chief was convinced and put his robe on Wahluna. Peace between the two tribes followed. All was well for about seven moons (seven days). Wahluna and Tlesca were paddling out in the lake when a monster came and tipped them over. The Blackfeet believed that the Great Spirit was angry because they had made peace with Red Dog's tribe, and they left. More legends are about Wallowa Lake. One such says that Wallowa lake is bottom-less and is connected to the Great Lakes by a subterranean river. This is true, for a Washington fisherman drowned in Wallowa lake, but was found in Lake Erie.

The Monster of Devil's Lake According to legend late one night an Indian Chief took a small group of young men on a hunting expedition. The expedition required them to paddle across in a canoe. They quietly slipped the canoe into the water and paddled across the lake. It was a full-moon that night and well-lit. Suddenly huge tentacles came out of the water and pulled the screaming Indians into the water, none survived. Every year the Indians held a festival and had a sacrifice to appease the demon in the lake. This carries on into the present, where people from all around gather at the lake's edge (Regretta Park) and have fun. Today the monster of Devil's Lake is said to be a ten foot cat-fish, or a log, or just some reeds floating along the shore. Recently though, there have been caves found along Devil's Lake, reportedly Entrances to Hell. Only priests and a few researchers have been allowed to enter. D-lake (as it is usually called) is a wonderful place to visit in the summer, so far no one has been claimed by the monster. A huge play-station area is at Regretta park, as well as docks and a small swimming area. A less crowded area is Sandy Point.

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