Mokele Mbembe

The Mokele-Mbembe is a lake monster inhabiting Lake Télé in Congo, Africa. Mokele-Mbembe is described as being a dinosaur, probably sort of sauropod. Some accounts describe the animal as being enormous - well over 30 feet tall. Other accounts have the animal as being closer to the size of a hippopotamus. Of course, these accounts may be describing a family of sauropods at different ages. In most accounts of the animal the Mokele-Mbembe has dark skin, a very long neck and a long tail. The Mokele-Mbembe is sometimes described as having one tooth or tusk and red eyes. The animal is somewhat aquatic, and remains in Lake Télé and it's tributaries much of the time.

The Mokele-Mbembe was first reported by non-natives in 1913 when Prussian military commander, Freiherr Von Stein. Commander Von Stein came upon a trail, which his native guides insisted was made by the animal. The Smithsonian Institute then offered three million dollars for a Mokele-Mbembe - dead or alive. Since then numerous Mokele-Mbembe sightings have been reported, but no conclusive evidence exists.

Lake Télé is deep in the rain forest of the Congo, and is surrounded by an enormous swamp. The Lake itself is about five miles by four miles in size. It is fairly shallow - less than ten feet in depth. It is filled with murky acidic water. If a reclusive sauropod does exist, this is the perfect environment for hiding it.

Interestingly enough, aviators flying over Lake Télé have sometimes reported highly unusual compass readings. Readings such as these have been associated with UFO activity.