October 10, 2009
DT: Van Lake Monster
by Oubliette
According to a recent study, there are over 250 lakes worldwide that are said to harbor large, unknown cryptids. Loch Ness is arguably the most famous, but Japan and Sweden also boost of lake monsters that have been frightening the inhabitants for centuries. However, a little known but nevertheless equally interesting beast is said to make its home in eastern Turkey, where it lives in Lake Van.
Unlike many of its counterparts, however, this beast seems to be of relatively recent origin, having been first reported only in 1995. This information appears to contradict what Josh tells us in the beginning moments of the show, when he states that locals have been “talking about the Lake Van monster for centuries“. Although I managed to turn up information from both CNN and the Associated Press, both news sources indicate that this monster is of recent origin. Either Josh was misinformed or the news services did not do their homework.
Lake Van itself is very near the border of Iran and quite large. As Josh informs us, it is about the size of Rhode Island. Its saline content is quite high, being very rich in sodium carbonate. It seems an inhospitable environment for any kind of life form, let alone a huge, unknown one. Only one species of fish is known to live in this type of watery environment and is classified as a “flying fish” due to its ability to leap out of the water.
The DT software rendition shows an animal at least 40 feet long with a protuberances along the spine. Unlike Nessie, it is said to occasionally leap out of the water. Dark, scaly skin and a muscular tail complete the body. The head is unlike most such reported monsters in that it is horse like in appearance, with jaws filled with razor sharp teeth.
After the now familiar plug for Orbitz, the team journeys to Istanbul, where Josh cannot resist having a bit of fun in the local bazaar. After donning several distinct turbans (and yes, I remember Johnny Carson sporting one on his show) and rubbing a lamp in hopes of summoning a genie, Josh passes up a $3000 Turkish carpet and pretends to abscond with a pile of smaller rugs. The merchant pursues him–all in good fun, of course.
Down to serious business, Josh meets with Gergium Cuench, the owner of GPR Productions and a “respected journalist”. It was he who obtained the film of the creature that had been filmed by Unal Kozak, a teacher‘s assistant at Van University. Cuench introduced the clip to the worldwide media, which subsequently created intense interest in Lake Van and its supposed inhabitant. He tells Josh that the monster long been a part of Turkish history and that many trusted individuals believe in the beast. He does hedge his bets, however, in stating that it is questionable whether the monster’s existence can be proved.
The only solution is to go to Van itself and speak to the eyewitnesses. Apparently still suffering from jet lag–Rex is swimming on the luggage belt–they obtain yet another DT Mobile, complete with dirty towel and a pair of underwear (yuck). Upon reaching Van, we are treated to some beautiful shots of the landscape surrounding the city while we learn that the area has been inhabited for 7000 years. These exotic scenic vistas comprise yet another reason why I find DT an interesting show to watch.
The local government, besides erecting a statue of the beast (which surprisingly looks more like Nessie than the previous rendition we saw at the beginning of the show), sent a team to try and locate the animal. Josh has a discussion with the mayor, Nazmi Sezer, who assures him that this expedition did find evidence of its existence, including its eggs. Countering any questions as to the high salinity of the water and thus its inability to sustain a large population of animals, he informs Josh that there is fresh water near Akhtamar Island, where the monster is said to spawn.
True to form, there is always something unusual going on whenever the DT crew venture into foreign lands. This time they run into a parade, complete with military marching bands and children in colorful costumes. Josh jokingly asks if the “Turkish Back Street Boys” are behind him in the crowd. I have to wonder if the city put on the show knowing that DT was coming to town 
At any rate, the gang is served tea and is surrounded by Turkish men-one of whom massages Josh‘s back-sporting the same style mustaches. This prompts a team vote that ends in Mike being made over as a local, as he gets his own mustache trimmed in Turkish style and a new hair style to boot. I have to admit that Mike emerges looking Turkish enough to star in what Josh calls his new imaginary show “Carpet Wars”. Smoking a cigarette, he looks like he could easily blend into the crowd as one of the boys.
But they didn’t come here for fun and games. Josh meets up with boat captain Recep Avu, who claims to have had an encounter with the creature. The animal, sporting a horse shaped head, blew out water through its nose, frightening the men who were in fear for their lives. Ferry boat captain Osman Avu provides a similar detailed description, noting that the beast is dark brown in color and about 16 meters (approx. 48 feet) in length. It is his belief that the animal makes its home in a den of some sort near Akhtamar Island, and he gives Josh the necessary coordinates to sail there.
While Josh flies over the lake in a helicopter provided by the government, the rest prepare to survey the waters from the shore. Jael and Rex cover the southern end of the lake. Sharra and Bisha position themselves farther north, where they spot what appears to be humps in the water near where Jael and Rex are stationed. But by the time Josh is able to fly over the spot, the objects have disappeared. It is likely that this was simply debris, as Josh admits. It’s off to Akhtamar Island, the supposed lair of the beast.
Josh and Evan suit up to explore the waters, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creature. Like Loch Ness, the darkness and murkiness of the water make it difficult to see anything but vague shapes, prompting the decision to search on the water’s surface instead. Sharra sets up base camp while Josh and Jael climb up to a higher point near an ancient and crumbling church, complete with old but highly embellished tombstones.
As stated previously, I could find no evidence that this lake monster was ancient, but a study of the church ruins shows engravings of some kind of fantastical water beast. One such drawing shows an unknown animal in the act of attempting to eat a man on a boat while his companions try to pry him from its jaws. They are not dissimilar to other depictions of sea monsters found in other parts of the world.
As a rainstorm begins, Josh and Evan take off in a Zodiac boat, Jael and Bisha go exploring along the shore and Sharra, as usual, is left behind to monitor the equipment. Since only fish less than a foot long live in the lake, anything bigger would mean that something unknown was residing there as well. Conditions turn less than ideal as snow begins to fall along with sleet and heavy rain.
Despite the turn in the weather, things quickly begin to pick up. Jael and Bisha think they hear something like a moan and then there is a loud splash in the water close to them. Josh and Evan quickly steer in their direction, dropping an underwater camera overboard after something large passes under and bumps their boat. A peculiar shape is seen passing by the lens of the underwater camera; at the same time those on shore notice ripples appearing between them and the boat.
Excitement is high as Josh and Evan appear to be chasing something between them and the shoreline. A huge sonar image, coupled with an audible splash is heard as something big breaks through the water and goes under again. Despite the rapid pursuit, nothing further is seen, heard or recorded on the equipment. As the storm continues to pick up steam, Josh decides that the conditions are deteriorating too rapidly to continue on amidst the precipitation and cold temperatures.
Things are also going badly at base camp as the heavy rain causes the tent to collapse. Thankfully the equipment seems to have survived the sudden flood and true to his nature, Josh wants to head back out onto the lake, this time with Jael in tow. You just can’t keep a good man (or investigator) down.
And a good thing too, because this second excursion reveals a large, serpentine heat signature on the thermal camera, accompanied by more ripples in the water. A strange gurgling sound is heard and Jael excitedly points to where she can see three large black shapes in the water. These are apparently also picked up by the FLIR but they quickly disappear off the screen , much to Josh’s disappointment. A vigil is held for the rest of the night, but whatever caused the sudden activity in the water appears to have left the area.
Back in LA, the camera footage is analyzed but in the end no clear conclusion can be reached. The FLIR image appears to be over 20 feet long, and something unusual does swim past the underwater camera; a fin or something similar can just be made out in the murky video. What could have been responsible for the images as well as the sounds and bumping of the boat? Josh does admit that things don’t quite add up: on the one hand they do have the evidence before them, as well as their own experiences. But the extremely salty lake could not possibly provide enough of a food source for anything large to survive.
The original video that enticed the DT team to pursue this reported monster was taken to Dr. Scott Cooper, a marine biologist at the University of Santa Barbara. It is now that major disappointment sets in. Dr. Cooper points out that the object appears to be rigid and is being towed through the water, rather than swimming on it own. In addition, there is no indication that the object is breathing. Rather, there is just a bubbling at the surface, possibly made by using an air hose. The leather like skin is problematic, but taken as a whole the object looks to be fake.
Dr. Cooper explains how methane released from sediment could bubble up to the surface, which could give the appearance of the humps that many people have reported seeing. In addition, schools of fish could give the illusion that a large shape is under the water. But it is the myriad eyewitness accounts that prove most problematic and harder to dismiss. Dr. Cooper is wise enough to admit that, despite the probability that no large creature exists in the lake, there is still a small chance that something unknown may be lurking there.
This has been a hard call to make. I could find no evidence that makes any other mention, ancient or modern, of a possible monster before it was supposedly spotted in 1995. Josh and his team were operating under very adverse conditions on the lake and may have misinterpreted what they actually saw and heard. There is mention of the water becoming quite choppy from the storm; this may have been a factor along with the fact that we are dealing with a species of fish that can leap out of the water. This alone could account for the splashes that they heard.
With a video that looks like a hoax (there are many other clips available on YouTube and other websites as well), a movie in the making and a government that seems determined to push the idea that they have their own Nessie-like creature in the lake, it is difficult not to come to the conclusion that this may be a manufactured monster. But like Dr. Cooper, I would leave the door open to the possibility that at least some of the eyewitnesses saw a creature that defies explanation.
Filed under Destination Truth, Posts by Oubliette
 |
| ^ Please Support our Sponsor |
Comments on DT: Van Lake Monster »
alicat @ 3:19 pm
Thanks for the great review Oubliette.
I finally got a chance to watch this segment today. Maybe I've just become too cynical after watching GH but after doing my own extensive research, I just don't buy this episode. Yes, there is no doubt they were in Turkey but the rest is where it comes unglued for me. Here's what I mean.
The very first person we are introduced to is Gergium Cuench, a “respected journalist”. Okay, I searched high and low for this name and, if he was such a "respected journalist" as Josh claims, there should have been some reference to this, somewhere, right? There was not. In fact, in addition to my normal research, I searched over 25 Turkish news sources for just the mention of his name. Not one mention or even an article, book, paper, etc. written by Gergium Cuench. So, that immediately disturbed me until I found this individual's name is actually Gokhan Guvenc. Why is that important? Because Gokhan Guvenc has only contributed to 4 stories in 2003, 2004 and 2006 for CNN and there is the obvious connection as to why CNN carried the story on the "monster" in 2005. A "respected journalist"? Who's standard? I have seen nothing to support that claim at all but maybe my standards are a bit higher than "contributing" to a CNN story. The production company, a family owned business – no problem at all but, then again, they are not a big deal in Turkey.
Next we come to the fact that in all the archived and latest "news" of this supposed monster, I found only 2 mentions of it in the Turkish news. The first, in 1997 reports only "several sightings" which "prove" an unidentified creature exists and it reads:
"Tuesday, May 27, 1997
Turkish Daily News
Ankara- Reports of recent sightings prove that the unidentified creature which is claimed to live in Lake Van does actually exist, Van Governor Abdulkadir Sari claimed, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.
According to Sari, inhabitants of the area have reported several sightings of the creature. "It would be disrespectful not to believe them. Scientists have a duty to come here and investigate this area."
The governor called on local and foreign scientists to come to the region to undertake a full investigation. "Some people are saying we have invented this story about a monster in the lake to attract the attention of the tourists. We don't need to do that. Every year since 1990, 150,000 tourists have visited Van. Those who visit here come to see the historical and natural beauties of Van. Tourists are still coming here for the same reason," said Sari."
Well, you can see why I have a problem with this report and the reason: "It would be disrespectful not to believe them." says it all.
The second and only other news report:
"Tuesday, July 19, 2005
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
State Minister for Foreign Trade Kürşad Tüzmen said over the weekend that he intended to form a team of divers to find the monster of Lake Van.
Speaking during his visit to Van, Tüzmen said Lake Van and its beautiful environs was the region's best natural resource and should be exploited fully to make the area a major tourism attraction. �There is no oil or natural gas here. You only have the lake. We will send divers in October as a promotional effort so they can look for the monster. Our purpose is to make this monster live on and direct Turkey and the world's gaze to the lake.�
No one knows yet whether Tüzmen, who has yet to see a pool of water he didn't want to don his swimsuit for and swim in, will join the divers in the monster hunt.
Monster has big eyes and teeth:
Meanwhile, a person claimed on Monday that the monster had attacked a boat in which he was sailing.
Muğdat Avcı, who has rented out boats at Lake Van for the past 24 years, said: �All of a sudden, it appeared in front of the boat. When I shouted, my nephew came over. He said he hadn't seen a thing. The boat all of a sudden came to a halt. The neck of the monster was around two meters long, and it had huge eyes and teeth. We tried to move the boat but failed. Nothing happened for 10 minutes and then a whirlpool around the boat enveloped half of it. I've been here for 24 years and I have never seen anything like it. I hope to never see it again.�
He said he hadn't believed those claiming to have seen the monster but said what he witnessed had shocked him.
The Lake Van monster has been making the news for the past several years but has never been photographed."
Need I say more?
As far as the carvings in the stones, that has been going on since the beginning of time all over the world which Oubliette has pointed out. So, to me that meant absolutely nothing except being interesting from an historical point.
I think Dr. Cooper was being very kind in giving his assessment to Josh and gave him an accurate description of his opinion. He was very diplomatic in leaving the door open for the future but I never got the impression he believed anything would ever be found in the future. After seeing this episode, I couldn't help but agree with 100% with Dr. Cooper. Next time get a boat with a fish finder and we'll talk.
I guess it was a interesting story and a fun adventure but it was very disappointing from the get go for my taste. I like Josh but now I'm beginning to believe that it's only his personality and the foreign travel adventure that interests me – not the story so much. And haven't we seen more of the fun, frills and drama of getting to the actual location than what happened once we got there? Instead what we get is: I think we got something, they leave the next day, come back to the U.S. only to find it's nothing. Okay, I get they are not going to find something every time but for heaven's sake, stay awhile and see what happens instead of turning and running to the next location shoot. You know they aren't really running home after every segment, right?
Oubliette @ 3:39 pm
@alicat-that's also why I put Guvenc's being a "respected journalist" in quotes as well.
It's a shame that some countries supposedly believe that inventing a monster will solve their economic problems by attracting rich people in search of finding a cryptid and becoming famous, despite what they say to the contrary. It seems that they took Nessie as an example and made up their own creature based on her. That's also why I mentioned the statue–it bore little resemblance to the one in Lake Van but looked much more like Loch Ness's favorite beastie. A red flag, IMO.
alicat @ 3:45 pm
Agreed Oubliette. That's also why I kept the quotes in as well. I'm just so disappointed in the show but I loved your review. You hit all the points and I could tell your disappointment as well. Maybe I should put up that picture of the Nessie statute I took. LOL! The show is like someone holding out a prized candy in front of you as a kid (or adult) and then snatching it back just a the last moment.
blinddog50 @ 4:45 pm
That is what PO's me about this show.
Enjoy watching Josh, charming, effervescent, blah, blah.
Like the travelogue portion.
But you never get any conclusion to the show.
Damn, even 90% of the time J&G end the show with haunted or not haunted.
Bring the ex-stripper back…Oh, sorry wrong show.
Hell, hire the ex-stripper.
At least she had a definitive explanation at the end….even if she was nutty as squirrel sh*t.
Madame Oubliette, excellent review as always.
alicat @ 4:56 pm
I say we just put them all together in a huge container and see who and what shakes out. Each week we would have a different show going to different places, with different people, different view points, different equipment and different consultants. It certainly would make everyone watch each week to see what would happen. That, and throwing in BD's ex-stripper, could make things interesting (well, at least for BD).
blinddog50 @ 5:28 pm
@alicat
Could you imagine Yvette and Grant on the same show trying to out hoax each other.
Nosfer @ 5:29 pm
"But you never get any conclusion to the show.
Damn, even 90% of the time J&G end the show with haunted or not haunted."
I don't mind this…90% of the time J&G end it with haunted or not haunted based on the flimsiest of evidence, or evidence that is obviously suspect. Just because they say it IS or ISN'T doesn't make me feel any better. Josh leaving it "up in the air" is the best thing to do. If they don't find anything but do witness a few odd things, then you can't say one way or the other and leaving the door open is the best way to go. Only if they find undeniable proof should they declare it a positive find…and they've never found undeniable proof yet. But, by all means, bring in the ex-stripper!
Angelayo1970 @ 5:34 pm
You know, I believe the phrase "ex-stripper" is incorrect. It's kind of like former Marines like to say "Once a Marine, always a Marine". Well…"once a stripper…".
alicat @ 5:43 pm
@BD and Nosfer,
I think it would be hysterical. We could be taking bets or at least play the drinking game.
Somehow, given Nosfer's last commment, I think guys would bet on the ex-stripper who would win hands down.
EDIT: @ Angelayo1970 – Good point!
Nosfer @ 6:04 pm
Semper exhibentis
alicat @ 6:16 pm
Priceless!
Angelayo1970 @ 6:24 pm
Semper coanscey!
blinddog50 @ 6:47 pm
Alright, I accept the blame for wanderin' off topic.
So, let me do my moderatin' job here and urge ourselves to get back on track.
Don't want Logisti and Stephen to have to put down their latte' and herbal tea and come to the recess yard.
Ok, we were talking about a monster that lives in a sea that only it and 'flying' fish can live in.
Believe it or not I wrote that last sentence with a straight face.
Nosfer @ 8:12 pm
Mea culpa
Okay, to make amends for contributing to the aforementioned sidetrack…
"It's muscular tail cracks a devastating whip against would-be predators or curious vessels"
Just what would these predators be? I mean, if that thing is 40-some feet long and has those nice teeth etc, it would have to be a pretty impressive predator, especially in a lake said to be mostly devoid of any significant life other than the one native species of relatively small fish.
alicat @ 8:43 pm
Okay, me too.
So here are my questions. If the Mayor assured Josh that an expedition found evidence of the monster's existence, including its eggs, why didn't he present this evidence on camera or did I miss something? Josh and the crew would have needed to make an appointment to see the Mayor and explain, in advance, the purpose of their visit, so it makes no sense that, during the interview, the Mayor would just offer rhetoric and not some proof of this evidence. And, why has this evidence never been produced to anyone else or published anywhere at all? This would be such an incredible find, it makes no sense unless…..
Nosfer @ 8:45 pm
Additionally, along the lines of those eggs, they also know where it _spawns_ The two of those points indicate to me that there should be a respectable population of them, yet no definitive sightings?
alicat @ 8:54 pm
And, if they knew where they spawned, why didn't they dive in that area originally or stay around and check out that area even the very next day. Just piloting over to the area because they supposedly saw a dark figure on/under the water and then returning makes no sense. Take the boat out the next day and dive again and especially do it because you saw a figure the night before. Heck, take the boat over there the next day even if you don't dive. Though, if you can dive in one area, you can certainly dive in another. It just makes no sense.
Nosfer @ 9:03 pm
Is it just me, or is the number of "shadow sightings" starting to increase, too? Maybe if they spent less time sampling the local cuisine and culture they would have more time for the investigations. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy "seeing the sights" but we shouldn't lose sight of the target. For a two-parter, a full five minutes on carpets and mustaches was a bit long. Minus out the commercials and it equates to about a quarter of the episode
alicat @ 9:42 pm
Good point about the "shadow sightings". I had thought it might be the GH influence but, now that I think about it, it makes sense it's more than likely the "sampling" of what accompanies the cuisine and culture that increases these "sightings". The mugging for the camera and the partying seems to be more pronounced this season. Hey, I don't begrudge them for doing it, I just don't think we need to see as much of it. We get the picture. Although, do you think it's to show the contrast of the episode – fun v. fright? I'm not sure I believe that but it's a thought. I think they just like to have fun and who doesn't?
kevin @ 9:29 pm
Why search for this creature at night? Darkness really decreases the possibility of a visual sighting. Is it easier to pick up heat signatures on the FLIR at night? This is one of my main problems with DT. Investigating at night just to add to the fear factor. The same goes for GH and GHI.