Scotland's Loch Ness Monster may be better known, but there
is an older, though similar creature said to live in the waters of North America - Champ. More commonly known to the locals
as Champy, this lake monster is reputed to live in Lake Champlain, a body of
water that borders the U.S.
states of Vermont and New
York as well as the Canadian province of Quebec.
Though there has yet to be substantial proof regarding the existence of such a
sea serpent, many believe (or want to believe) in Champy.
The Start of it All
The Native Americans of
this region believed in a creature of the lake that was extremely powerful. The
Abenaki even named it Tatoskok, for it had horns and was mysterious. The next
account of Champy was in 1609 by the namesake of the lake and founder of Quebec, Samuel de
Champlain. Champlain's account, however, was unofficial.
The first formally recorded
sighting of Champy (more than 50 years before Scotland's Nessie controversy
began) wasn't until 1883, when a sheriff came forward. Once this report became
public, many witnesses claimed that they, too, had seen a serpent in the lake.
A $50,000 reward was offered in the early 1900s for the body of Champy, as P.T.
Barnum wanted to display it at his World's Fair Show.
Both Sides of the Debate
Champy's true believers
often share a similar faith in Nessie since the two creatures (and their
supposed habitats) have quite a bit in common. Both lakes are over 400 feet
deep and were formed by retreating glaciers. Importantly, there are enough fish
in these deep waters to feed such monstrous animals. Studies performed as
recently as 2008, however, suggest significant levels of variation in the fish
population. This, Champy's believers argue, could be due to the large, hungry creature
dwelling in Lake Champlain.
Sea monster skeptics argue that
Champy and Nessie would have to be either 10,000 years old or have ancestors
with breeding capabilities. It may seem impossible that serpents could live
undetected for so long in such populated areas, but the reports and allegations
about Champy and Nessie continue to flow.
A Cultural Staple
The legend of Champy may be
unproven, but the state governments of both New York
and Vermont
have passed resolutions to protect the alleged animal's well-being. Both states have officially made Champy a
protected species, too, discouraging "serious injury into the existence of
unusual animals in Lake Champlain, especially
one commonly known as Champ."
Videos and pictures of
Champy show a creature unlike anything else that is known, but definitive proof
of the lake monster's existence has yet to be found. Regardless of the truth in the tale, the sea
serpent has become part of the culture in the areas surrounding Lake Champlain. Vermont's
Minor League Baseball team even uses Champy as its mascot.
Some tourists flock to the
area hoping to catch a glimpse of this lake monster, but others dismiss such
efforts as foolish and outlandish. What
do you think? Is Champy real?
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Re: Champy: Fact or Fiction?
