Ponik of Lake Pohénégamook
In a small Quebec lake near the US border, people describe a long, dark creature with a horse-like head. One of the witnesses was the village priest.
What was reported
Lake Pohénégamook, in Quebec close to the border with Maine, is said to be home to Ponik, a lake monster described as 3 to 12 metres long, dark brown or black, with a horse-like head and humps on its back. Sightings go back to the 1870s.
In the 1950s, the local priest, Father Léopold Plante, reported seeing it, which gave the stories credibility, and a government team of scientists came to investigate in 1977.
Explanations offered
The scientists found no monster, but suggested a large sturgeon, a fish that can grow very long and looks prehistoric. Ponik is now the town's mascot, with a festival and statues.
- When
- Reported since the 1870s
- Where
- Lake Pohénégamook, Quebec, Canada
- Witnesses
- Residents, including a local priest
- 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.
More from Québec