Van (folk tale — since the 1990s)

The Monster of Lake Van

Folklore — not a documented case

Since the 1990s, numerous witnesses have claimed to have seen a large, unexplained creature in the lake. Amateur footage has occasionally been shared, but none of it has been scientifically confirmed; explanations such as misidentified fish species or optical illusion have been proposed. It is one of Turkey's best-known paranormal tales, and has also found a place in regional tourism.

Claims of a giant creature said to live in Turkey's largest lake have surfaced regularly since the early 1990s. Witnesses generally reported seeing a long, dark-colored mass moving on the surface of the water.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region