Overview
Ogopogo is said to live in Okanagan Lake in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, a long, deep lake of about 135 km with depths over 230 metres. Witnesses typically describe a long, dark, serpent-like body with humps, sometimes estimated at 15 metres or more.
Long before the name Ogopogo, the Syilx (Okanagan) people knew of a being in the lake, often written as n'ha-a-itk or Naitaka, meaning a spirit of the lake. It was respected and feared as a spiritual presence, not described as a demon. Offerings were made when crossing near Rattlesnake Island, said to be its home. Westbank First Nation's Pat Raphael has described it as a sacred spirit that protects the valley.
Settlers began recording their own sightings in the 1800s. The playful name Ogopogo came in the 1920s from an English music-hall song. Films, photographs and videos followed, from the 1968 Folden film to clips shared online in recent years. No unknown animal has been confirmed. Skeptics suggest otters swimming in a line, beavers, logs and waves. The creature remains a beloved local symbol, with a statue on the Kelowna waterfront.
Timeline
- Pre-contactSyilx traditions of the lake spirit.
- 1855Métis settler John McDougall reports horses pulled under while crossing.
- 1872Susan Allison gives the first detailed settler account.
- 1914A decomposing carcass is reported near Rattlesnake Island.
- 1920sThe name Ogopogo spreads from a music-hall song.
- 1968Art Folden films a moving object in the lake.
- 1989Ken Chaplin films a shape; biologists suggest a beaver.
- 2008Sean Viloria photographs disturbances in the water.
- 2018Several sightings reported in September.
Reported sightings
Rattlesnake Island and Squally Point, Okanagan Lake
Traditional Told story
In Syilx tradition, the being in the lake was respected as a spirit that could take physical form, said to dwell in a cave near Squally Point by Rattlesnake Island. People made offerings when crossing that part of the lake. This is a living cultural tradition, and visitors are encouraged to learn about it from Syilx sources.
Source: tourismkelowna.comOkanagan Lake
1855 Told story
Métis settler John McDougall reported that his horses were pulled underwater while crossing the lake. The story is one of the earliest settler accounts tied to the creature.
Source: tourismkelowna.comOkanagan Lake
1872 On the record
Susan Allison, a settler, gave what is described as the first detailed Ogopogo account by a European settler. She said she saw something she believed was a dinosaur-like creature in the lake.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNear Rattlesnake Island, Okanagan Lake
1914 On the record
A decomposing carcass was reported near Rattlesnake Island, described as a blue-grey animal several feet long with a tail and flippers. The remains were never identified.
Source: kelownaguide.comFrom Highway 97, Okanagan Lake
1968 On the record
Art Folden filmed a large object surfacing and moving through the water. Analysis confirmed something was there, but its size could not be fixed. A 2005 National Geographic review suggested waterfowl, otters or a beaver.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOkanagan Lake
1989 On the record
Ken Chaplin recorded video of a shape in the water. Biologists who reviewed it said it was most likely a beaver, and one, Robert Lincoln, said the size had been exaggerated.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOkanagan Lake
2008 On the record
Sean Viloria photographed unusual disturbances on the surface. The TV show MonsterQuest found no sign of tampering. Skeptics suggested a windsurfer.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOkanagan Lake
September 2018 On the record
Three sightings were reported in a single month, including one describing a giant snake about 15 metres long. The cluster brought the creature back into the news.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgEvidence
Folden film (1968) Disputed
Shows a large object moving in the lake; size undetermined, possibly animals in a line.
Chaplin video (1989) Explained
Biologists judged it likely a beaver.
1914 carcass Unexplained
Reported blue-grey remains with flippers; never identified.
Viloria photos (2008) Disputed
No evidence of tampering; windsurfer suggested.
What each side says
What witnesses and researchers report
Sightings come from residents and visitors over more than 150 years, and the Syilx tradition of the lake spirit is far older still. Witnesses describe similar humped, serpentine shapes.
Supporters note the lake's depth and size, and that films like Folden's show something real moving in the water.
What skeptics and scientists suggest
Benjamin Radford and others propose otters swimming in a row, beavers, logs, waterspouts and waves. Sturgeon have been suggested, but no sturgeon has been proven in the lake, and a $10,000 reward for proof is unclaimed.
Biologists reviewing the main videos have generally identified ordinary animals or found the evidence too unclear to judge.
Open questions
- What made the 1914 carcass?
- What was in the Folden film?
Visiting
Where: Kelowna, British Columbia, especially Kerry Park on the downtown waterfront, which has an Ogopogo statue; views toward Rattlesnake Island and Squally Point.
Access: Public waterfront parks.
Events: Sncəwips, a Westbank First Nation cultural organization, shares Syilx culture.
Did you know?
- The name Ogopogo comes from a 1920s music-hall song.
- Ogopogo was listed under the BC Wildlife Act in 1989, according to Tourism Kelowna.