Lakes are beautiful on the surface—but beneath their still waters often lie chilling secrets. For centuries, these seemingly peaceful places have been the setting for ghostly apparitions, phantom hitchhikers, and monstrous creatures that defy explanation. From women in white wandering the shorelines to serpent-like beasts slipping through the depths, haunted lakes across the world are steeped in legend, mystery, and fear. Here are five ghost-ridden lakes and five legendary lake monsters that continue to captivate—and terrify—those who dare to look beneath the surface.

Loch Ness is about to get busy again—and no, it’s not a Highland cow swim meet. The Quest is back, baby, and it's bigger, better, and blurrier than ever. From May 22 to 25, 2025, monster hunters, cryptid chasers, and casual curiosity seekers will descend on the legendary loch, hoping to glimpse the queen of elusive creatures: Nessie herself.

Intriguing sights and sounds have recently emerged from a major new investigation of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, sparking renewed excitement among Nessie enthusiasts. During the annual Nessie-hunting event known as Quest, organized by the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, a couple of findings have come to light.

In its never-ending quest to find the Loch Ness Monster, Scotland’s Loch Ness Centre is looking skyward instead of under the surface for help in their pursuit of the Loch Ness monster— they're recruiting NASA.

In a world where the bizarre and the unexplained capture our imaginations, it's no surprise that cryptids, the elusive creatures that straddle the line between myth and reality, have a special place in our hearts—and, as it turns out, our beliefs. A fascinating study published in the International Journal of Communication dives into this phenomenon, revealing just how many of us believe that creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster are really out there.