Sorry to disappoint millions of monster-hunters, but the picture that has been spread far and wide across the internet (and even into many newspapers) is *not* of the Loch Ness Monster.
The picture, which you can check out here via Apple Maps if you’re running Mac OS X Mavericks, shows what the Daily Mail believes to be:
“a shadowy form measuring around 100ft long and seemingly with two giant flippers powering it through the waters of Loch Ness”
Perhaps unsuprisingly, the image was widely shared by Facebook and Twitter users.
Gizmodo reader Dave Wood created an animated GIF, which illustrates the truth behind the picture better than any words:
So, it’s a boat on Loch Ness, not a prehistoric monster that somehow missed the memo about turning extinct 65 million years ago.
The moral? Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, or – for that matter – in the national newspapers.
If you want to have the Nessie theory debunked further, and read a fascinating explanation of why the image looks like it does, check out this great write-up on Metabunk.org.
I love this. Not only because I am reminded of Apple's screw up with placing certain physical objects on the Thames among other terrible disasters for Apple's map (leading to them suggesting that their users use Google, a competitor, instead – serves them right for their much too often intellectual property law – helped by the jury who favours Apple, the innocent of everything company – abuse). But there's this other thing… I once convinced a friend that they in fact found Nessie and this was without pictures. Of course, he was fairly gullible but still, the fact he and I both don't like Apple, makes this more amusing (and satisfying).
On the other hand, I sort of wish it DID exist (but only if I could see it!)… alas….