Many real sea monster stories start as facts. Take the oarfish for example. It is a long, ribbon - like fish that can grow to be quite large. When fishermen or sailors saw it for the first time, they might have thought it was some kind of sea monster because of its unusual appearance. But over time, as more was learned about it, the mystery decreased. So real sea monster stories can begin as facts and then be embellished into legends, or they can be based on real, but not fully understood, animals.
Some real sea monster stories are based on facts. For example, as I mentioned before, the giant squid is real. The early stories were exaggerated but they were based on real sightings. Sailors really did see these huge, strange - looking creatures in the ocean.
The Megalodon is also a fact - based part of sea monster stories. We know from fossils that it existed and was huge. However, some sea monster stories are more legend - based. The kraken, for instance, might have been inspired by real animals but was also highly mythologized in Norse sagas. So it's a mix of both facts and legends in real sea monster stories.
Most real sea monster stories start as legends but often have some kernel of truth. Consider the reports of strange sea creatures that wash ashore. Sometimes these are deformed animals or ones that are very rarely seen in certain areas. People might misinterpret what they see and then the story spreads as a sea monster sighting. However, in some cases, like with the discovery of large prehistoric - looking fossils near the ocean, it can fuel sea monster stories that might actually have some basis in prehistoric marine life that we don't fully understand yet.
There's no easy answer. Real sightings do occur, but they are often hard to prove. For instance, when people claim to see a lake monster, it could be a large sturgeon or a group of fish swimming together that looks like one big creature. Legends, though, add a whole new dimension. They are often based on old tales passed down through generations. Take Ogopogo in Okanagan Lake. The local First Nations had stories about it long ago. As time passed, more and more sightings were reported, and the legend grew. So, it's a complex mix of possible real sightings and age - old legends.
It's a bit of both. While there have been many sightings and stories, no conclusive evidence has been found to prove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Some of the sightings could be misidentifications of known animals or objects in the loch. However, the long - standing nature of these stories and the number of eyewitness accounts suggest there might be something unexplained going on.
Most likely they are just legends. There has been no conclusive scientific evidence to prove the existence of the yeti. Many so - called 'proofs' like footprints and hairs can often be explained by other means, such as misidentified animal tracks or hairs from known animals that have been carried by the wind.
I think these mountain monsters monster stories are a mix of legend and a little bit of truth that has been exaggerated over time. There may have been some sightings of strange animals in the mountains that people didn't understand, and over the years, these accounts turned into tales of fearsome monsters. But as of now, without any solid proof, we can't say that these mountain monsters are real.
They could be based on real creatures. For example, many 'sea monster' stories might be misidentifications of large, rare species. Giant squids were once thought of as sea monsters. Their huge size and elusive nature made them seem like something out of a horror story. Also, large whales that breach or behave in unusual ways could be misconstrued as sea monsters.
Some sea monster stories might be based on real, but misidentified creatures. For example, large whales or giant squids could have been mistaken for sea monsters in the past due to their large size and strange appearance when seen from a ship.
It's a complex matter. There are some accounts that seem very convincing at first glance. For instance, there are stories where people exhibit strange behavior that stops after an exorcism. But when you look deeper, there could be other explanations. Environmental factors, like mold in a house causing hallucinations, or psychological stress could be the real cause. So it's hard to say they are completely based on facts. It's more likely that most are a mix of superstition and misinterpreted natural phenomena.
Some real exorcist stories might be based on facts. There are cases where people exhibit abnormal behavior that cannot be easily explained by modern medicine. In such situations, exorcism has been attempted, and sometimes, the person's condition has improved. However, there are also many cases that are likely just superstition, as people in the past were quick to attribute strange things to the supernatural without proper investigation.
Some real clairvoyant stories might be based on coincidence. People tend to remember the times when something was 'predicted' and it came true, but forget all the times it didn't. So, in many cases, it could be superstition.