 Photograph of Igopogo, taken by an observer in 1976. | |
| Sub grouping | Lake monster |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Kempenfelt Kelly, Beaverton Bessie, Simcoe Kelly[1] |
| Country | Canada |
| Region | Lake Simcoe,Ontario |
| Details | Found in water |
InCanadian folklore, theIgopogo is a mythical creature said to dwell inLake Simcoe,Ontario.[1] The creature's name is ostensibly based on theOgopogo, ofLake Okanagan,British Columbia, and also the title of the 1952 bookI GoPogo, a slogan often mentioned in the comic.[2] Other nicknames for the Igopogo includeBeaverton Bessie, afterBeaverton, Ontario, and "Kempenfelt Kelly" afterthe bay that extends from the lake into the city ofBarrie, Ontario.[3] The city of Barrie erected The Sea Serpent sculpture, representing the legendary Igopogo, at the waterfront.[4]
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]
Some writers have speculated based on this appearance that the sightings were actually ofpinnipeds, such asotters or seals.[1][3]
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]
Other alleged sightings include reports in 1903 and 1906, and a 1991 video recording of "a large, seal-like animal."[3] In 2016 John Kirk of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club claimed onTheShirley Show to have a tape of the creature, though he did not show it.[2]
