The Mohán
On Colombia's great river, fishermen tell of a long-haired, bearded figure who lives in a cave under the water and plays tricks on those who fish.
What was reported
Along the Magdalena River in Colombia, the Mohán is said to be a wild, hairy man with a long beard and glowing eyes who lives in an underwater cave or a hidden grotto by the river. He smokes tobacco, plays the guitar, and owns treasures of gold.
Fishermen leave him tobacco and salt to keep him happy, because he can tangle their nets, scare the fish away, overturn canoes or charm away young women who go down to the river.
Explanations offered
The Mohán is linked to Indigenous traditions of river spirits and shamans, transformed in colonial times. Folklorists see him as a personification of the river's power and danger. He's celebrated in the region's folklore festivals.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Magdalena River, Tolima, Colombia
- Witnesses
- Colombian river tradition
- Status
- Legend
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.
More from Colombia