East Iceland
Lake Lagarfljót
About Lake Lagarfljót
Lake Lagarfljót is a long glacial lake near Egilsstaðir, famous for the Lagarfljótsormurinn — Iceland's equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster — a giant serpent that has been reported in the lake since 1345.
History & Background
The monster legend of Lagarfljót dates to 1345, when a girl allegedly placed a small worm on a gold ring to make it multiply. Instead the worm grew to enormous size and was thrown into the lake, where it has been terrorizing locals ever since. Sightings have been reported for nearly 700 years and a 2012 video claiming to show the creature under ice went viral worldwide. The lake is murky with glacial silt from Vatnajökull, which may explain why the legend has persisted so long — nobody can see what's in the depths.
Key Facts
Monster legend dates to 1345 — nearly 700 years old
A 2012 viral video claimed to show the serpent
Length approximately 25 km
Murky with glacial silt from Vatnajökull
Located near Egilsstaðir, East Iceland
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