Lake Iliamna, Alaska, is the size of Rhode Island and at least 250 meters deep. It has the largest salmon run in the world, is still so isolated no roads lead to it, and has seven times the volume of Loch Ness. It would be surprising if such a lake did not have "monster" stories surrounding it, originally told by the Alaska Natives (Tlingit, Dena'ina, Yup'ik, and others) who have lived there for centuries beyond count. What's interesting is that its legend is unique. Iliamna (despite one fakey YouTube "monster" video) is not claimed to have the plesiosaur-like monsters of other lakes, but a colossal fish. It's probable this legend (well fortified by modern sightings) concerns an undocumented population of white sturgeon, but it's impossible for us romantic natural history types to avoid speculating on what else it might be.
For details, see this article by yours truly.
Images of Lake Iliamna taken by University of Washington scientists
The white sturgeon (a baby: they approach 4 meters long and maybe even 5). US FWS photo
Lake Iliamna monsters? (low-res version of image provided by artist Bill Rebsamen for my book Shadows of Existence)
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