At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them. The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is - we believe - the largest professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world. Since 2009 we have been running the increasingly popular CFZ Blog Network, and although there has been an American branch of the CFZ for over ten years now, it is only now that it has a dedicated blog.

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

BROSNYA THE RUSSIAN LAKE MONSTER

Back in the days when Russia was subject to Mongol raids, so the legend goes, one of the invaders was Batu Khan.  His army stopped by Lake Brosno, in the modern-day Tver Oblast.  The horses went to drink its waters when there emerged a hideous draconic monster which proceeded to dine on horse and man alike.  Terrified, the Mongol host retreated.

However, this did not mark the end of the legendary monster of Lake Brosno.  Over the centuries, men have reported sightings of this creature.  This poses a problem.  The lake does not have enough fish to feed a breeding population of monsters, so naturally one has to ask what people might be seeing.

Mirages or misperception seems to be the answer proffered by many skeptics.  The bottom of the lake contains a number of fissures and boiling water coming to the surface may have taken on the appearance of a draconic head.  It has actually been suggested that there is a volcano on the lake bed and geologists have not ruled this possibility out.  

Modern sightings have been reported from 1854.  Maybe a large beaver or pike is in the waters.  A World War II legend says the monster swallowed a German airplane.  Those of piscatorial bent speak of a tradition of a Huge Mouth, whatever that means, putting in an appearance.  Echo soundings in 2002 failed to discover a monster, but did find some kind of jelly-like mass.

However, we cannot rule out the possibility that some huge and primeval creature, rendered hideous by a centuries-long lifespan,
lurks unmoving at the bottom of the lake or perhaps in some cavern where the fissures lead, emerging only to devour whatever on the surface has disturbed its tranquility.   

No comments:

Post a Comment