Boogeymen: Monsters Among Us

For almost two centuries, tourists flock to the waters of Lake Champlain hoping to glimpse the lake monster affectionately dubbed Champ.

The Mothman legend captivates tourists around the world, who pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia where the monster is now a local celebrity.

What is it about sleepy Adams, Tennessee, that attracts tourists eager to visit graveyards, haunted caves and cabins, swap scary stories and try to summon the spirits of the dead? The legend of the Bell Witch and a 200-year old haunting are they key.

A 19th century legend has put the town of Rhinelander, Wisconsin on the map, a must-visit location for those interested in American folklore and the supernatural, as Rhinelander is the home of the Hodag, a mythical beast transformed into a town mascot.

Each year, tourists with no interest in skiing or scenic views flock to the Austrian town of Klagenfurt to do a different kind of sightseeing: they’re after a glimpse of the legendary Tatzelwurm creature, or the chance to drink a beer and discuss it.

The town of Willow Creek, California takes the legend of Bigfoot more seriously than anywhere else in the world. An ape-like monster believed to be the missing link, there are organized hunting expeditions, statues, and even a museum. But how real is it?

The city of Kelowna in Okanagan Valley, is home to one of Canada's oldest and most enduring legends. In the depths of Okanagan Lake, a monster known as Ogopogo, described as a 10-15 meter long serpent, has been sighted on and off since the 19th century.

Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake and a popular holiday destination, is said to be the home of Bownessie: a prehistoric snake-like creature, akin to Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster. Is there any truth to the legend? We endeavor to find out.

Known locally as the "Lagarfljót Worm," the large and monstrous creature living in an Icelandic lake is investigated.

In the Swedish province of Jamtland, a local legend of a lake monster dating back centuries has found new life in the waters of Lake Storsjön. The creature is known as Storsie, and researchers claim to have found compelling evidence for its existence.

Minnesota’s lakes have always drawn tourists interested in water activities, but a resurgence of strange sightings have attracted a different breed of enthusiast on the quest for evidence of Pepie, a lake monster whose legend dates back centuries.

Lake Norman, in North Carolina, is home to a monster that might be a giant alligator mutated by runoff from a nearby nuclear power plant.

For just over a century, strange sightings in Patagonia, Argentina, have captivated everyone's imagination. They all seek to discover if the creature with the face of a serpent and the neck of a swan, known as Nahuelito, is more than just local legend.

Since 1735, legend has it that a demonic creature has stalked the woods of one of America’s oldest states. The Devil has given its name not just to hockey teams but to shops, wine, musical bands and a dizzying array of memorabilia.

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania is a region rife with reports of paranormal sightings and occurrences. A number of witnesses have seen a flying creature that resembles no known bird in existence. Some swear they've seen dogs snatched by a giant bird.

The Sasquatch, sometimes referred to as Bigfoot, has haunted the forests of North America’s West Coast for centuries. Its silhouette has been seen by dozens of people over the years; but to this day, we wonder if it's a figment of the imagination.

In the 1990s, the Chupacabra spread fear into the hearts of Texans. While some debate whether it walks on two or four legs, everyone agrees on its fangs, claws and thorny spine. There was no physical evidence until a resident made a gruesome discovery.

Louisiana’s Honey Island Swamp Monster has terrorized the inhabitants of the bayou for more than 30 years. This bipedal monster with piercing yellow eyes is estimated to stand over two meters tall, and weigh more than 300 pounds.

In the forests of the Appalachians, there lives a rare and still unidentified creature. Physically imposing, with traits characteristic of wolves, bears and gorillas; this strange monster strikes fear into peoples hearts. Some think it a werewolf.

A mythical snake-like creature lives in the waters of Lake Seljordsvalnet in Norway. The monster measures some 20 meters in length, with a greenish tint and a raised back; Named Selma, she has been terrifying residents of the lake since the 18th century.

In a lake just a hundred miles from Loch Ness, you may find the monster of Loch Morar. Known as Morag, it has avoided the limelight and tourists partly because no road goes around the lake...but also because seeing Morag is supposedly an omen of death.

The Dobhar Chu is a mythical monster that has inhabited British lakes since ancient times. Thought to be a cross between a giant otter and a hound, the Dobhar Chu is about seven feet long, or about the size of a crocodile.

The beauty of Australia’s Byron Bay attracts over one million visitors per year. However, they probably don’t suspect the presence of a mysterious creature known locally as the Devil Dog. It could be an animal long thought extinct, the Tasmanian tiger.

A hairy, aggressive monster is said to haunt northern New Zealand. The Maori named it Moehau, in honor of the highest peak in a nearby mountain range. This half-man, half-gorilla is a true New Zealand legend, just as Bigfoot is for North Americans.

A monster has terrorized Belize for centuries. It is described as a small man, three-feet tall, with an ugly face, hands without thumbs and inverted feet. According to legend it wears a red hat, dresses in animal skins and carries a menacing machete.