(opens the full-size plate in a new tab) Tahoe Tessie
Aquatic Serpent
Scientists attribute the moving shapes to wind patterns and to unusually large sturgeon.
A gargantuan, plesiosaur-like aquatic serpent that utilizes an expansive network of underwater caves to remain hidden within the depths of Lake Tahoe.
Etymology. Named Tahoe Tessie as Lake Tahoe's direct, affectionate equivalent to Scotland's Nessie.
Anatomy. It is an enormous serpent-like monster with smooth, gray or turquoise skin. Sighting estimates claim it stretches over 600 feet in length and possesses a head 14 feet wide.
Ecology. Inhabits the deep, 1,645-foot waters of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California and Nevada border. Biologists suggest its massive ecosystem of rainbow trout and kokanee salmon could easily support a large, undocumented predator.
Behavior. An elusive swimmer that rarely surfaces, preferring to remain hidden within subterranean lake caverns. When it does surface, it creates a massive wake and noticeable whitecaps.
Mythology. Its roots tie into ancient Washoe legends of powerful water spirits, specifically the Water Babies and a giant bird called Ong. Modern scientists attribute the dark, moving shapes to wind patterns creating optical illusions, or the presence of exceptionally massive, prehistoric-looking sturgeon.