Storsjoodjuret, Sweden's Sea Monster

In November of 2005, Sweden removed Storsjoodjuret (The Great Lake Monster) from their endangered species list.  A curious move, as it is safe to say this fine country isn't experiencing a Lake Monster infestation.  Perhaps Storsjoodjurer admirers belong to the wrong political party and this was an act of aggression by an arrogant ruling party.  Who knows?  This aquatic reptile with a dog's head, living in 300 feet of water in Lake Storsjon (near Ostersund) was first seen in 1635. This Swedish enigma is said to have fins across it's back and measure almost 20 feet in length. Some claim the fins are actually humps....I prefer the fin description.

Just before the 20th Century rolled around, King Oscar supported an expedition to capture our elusive friend.  It failed.  Ambiguous photographs and films have been shot over the years extending the debate as to..does the Storsjoodjuret really exist?  The creature was even etched on an ancient 11th Century Swedish stone (Froso Runestone), and that figure matches the witness descriptions which began in 1635.

Man's ability to compile a complete catalog of Earth's species is woeful.  Thousands of new species have been classified in the past couple of decades.  Who knows....perhaps someday Stockholm will be devoured by Storsjoodjuret just as Copenhagen was destroyed by Reptilicus in the 1960s.