 Photograph of Igopogo, taken by an observer in 1976. | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Kempenfelt Kelly, Beaverton Bessie, Simcoe Kelly[1] |
| Sub grouping | Lake monster |
| Origin | |
| Country | Canada |
| Region | Lake Simcoe, Ontario |
| Details | Found in water |
In Canadian folklore, the Igopogo is a mythical creature said to dwell in Lake Simcoe, Ontario.[1] The creature's name is ostensibly based on the Ogopogo, of Lake Okanagan, British Columbia, and also the title of the 1952 book I Go Pogo, a slogan often mentioned in the comic.[2] Other nicknames for the Igopogo include Beaverton Bessie, after Beaverton, Ontario, and "Kempenfelt Kelly" after the bay that extends from the lake into the city of Barrie, Ontario.[3] The city of Barrie erected The Sea Serpent sculpture, representing the legendary Igopogo, at the waterfront.[4]
Alleged sightings
David Soules, an early settler, is credited with the first alleged Igopogo sighting in 1823. While tending sheep, Soules reportedly saw a long creature leaving a wake in the water and a trail in the mud. Another major sighting took place in 1952 by four witnesses including Wellington Charles, chief of the Georgina Island First Nation.[1] In 1983, sonar operator William W. Skrypetz reported spotting a large animal with a long neck,[1] although some have disputed this account, claiming the reading could have instead been a school of fish.[3] The Globe and Mail also told of Charles, who worked as a local fishing guide.[5] Charles described seeing a marine animal with "a neck like a stovepipe with a face like a boxer dog."[5]
Other alleged sightings include reports in 1903 and 1906, and a 1991 video recording of "a large, seal-like animal."[3] In 1952, David Luu reported to the Globe and Mail seeing a "huge gray thing", that "leaped" while boating on the lake.[5] In 2016, John Kirk of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club claimed on The Shirley Show to have a tape of the creature, though he did not show it.[2] E. J. Delaney described it as a creature with two long antennae, four octopus-like arms, three pairs of legs, and six gill-like appendages with feathers.[1]
Proposed explanations
Some writers have speculated based on this appearance that the sightings were actually of pinnipeds, such as otters or seals.[1][3]
See also
- Ogopogo, reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada
- Manipogo, said to live in Lake Manitoba, Manitoba
- Memphre, said to live in Lake Memphremagog, Quebec
- Seelkee, said to live in the swamps of what is now Chilliwack, in British Columbia
References
- R. Fee, Christopher; B. Webb, Jeffrey (August 29, 2016). American myths, legends, and tall tales : an encyclopedia of American folklore. ABC-CLIO. p. 500. ISBN 978-1610695688.
- Urquhart, Rod. "Lake Simcoe's Own Monster". Lake Simcoe Living. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- Nickell, Joe (14 October 2005). "Investigators Search for Canadian Lake Monster". Live Science. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- Sgambati, Sue (2016-06-29). "Enchanting Sea Serpent lands at Barrie waterfront". BarrieToday.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- "Igopogo, Simcoe Monster, Reported Sighted Again". Globe and Mail. 1963-07-01. Archived from the original on 2025-09-24.