Kussie of Lake Kussharo
A volcanic lake in Hokkaido drew crowds in the 1970s after people reported a large creature with humps.
What was reported
Lake Kussharo is a large caldera lake in eastern Hokkaido, in Akan-Mashu National Park, with hot springs along its shore. In 1973 a group of people reported seeing a large animal with humps moving through the water, and more sightings followed.
The creature was named Kussie, after Nessie, and became a local mascot with statues and souvenirs.
Explanations offered
Suggestions include large fish, deer swimming across the lake, waves and floating debris. The lake's acidic water, from volcanic activity, makes it a poor home for large animals, and no evidence has been found.
- When
- Reported from 1973
- Where
- Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Witnesses
- Lakeside visitors and tourists
- Status
- Unconfirmed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.