According to legends passed down from generation to generation, within Lake Okanaga of British Columbia, Canada lies a rarely seen monster. Described as a 50-foot long serpent with green skin, humps that stick out of the water, and small fins, this mysterious creature, is known as the Ogopogo, and is considered to be a ‘Cousin of the Loch Ness Monster‘.
The legend goes like this: A demonic possessed man by the name of Kel-oni-won murdered a well respected Elder, named Old Kan-he-kan with a club. The Gods saw this, and as punishment for his evil deed he turned Kel-oni-won into a Serpent of the Lake, a monster who would be imprisoned at the scene of his crime for eternal compunction. From that day on, Kel-oni-won would be known as N’ha-a-itk, which is Salish for “Water Demon”. N’ha-a-itk was banished to Lake Okanagan to dwell amongst the other animals, however it is said that only the Rattlesnake could tolerate this contrite serpents company.
It’s been told that the Ogopogo’s place of residence is a cave by Squally Point near Rattlesnake Island within 100-mile long, 1000-foot deep Okanagan Lake. According to the locals a live animal sacrifice was needed for safe passage. Native tribes who lived around the lake would sacrifice small animals such as deer, ducks, puppies, or chickens to appease the monster by dropping the live animal in the lake, which would secure a protected journey. Apparently, Rattlesnake Island had been littered with remnants of unlucky travelers who refused to make a sacrifice. These findings align with other stories of helpless natives that have been murdered by the creature. The white European travelers would ridicule these legends, but as years went on, Ogopogo had established itself within the minds of men nearby.
Archival records of sightings date back to the mid 1800s, where white immigrants reported seeing strange phenomena happening within the lake. A popular first story came in 1854 where it told of a man, John McDougall, totally ignored the local natives warnings and crossed Okanegan Lake with his two tethered horses. While swimming, McDougall became terrified when a strange force pulled the animals under. McDougall saved himself from this unfortunate fate by cutting the ropes which were tied between him and the horses.
Seen by the first world since the 19th century, consider in 1926, where a reported 30 cars had proclaimed seeing Ogopogo along an Okanagan beach. This was uncommon for a cryptid monster to be seen by so many at one time.
Another sighting happened in July 1947, where a numerous amount of boaters reportedly saw Ogopogo concurrently. They detailed the monster as having ‘a long sinuous body, being 30-feet in length, with half of its’ forked tail out of the water’.
Seeing as how most sightings of the Ogopogo come from the center of the lake which is in proximity of the city of Kelowna. Many monster investigators seem to confirm this which was originally indicated in the legend, but until more credible evidence shows up, it’s all still a mystery.