No lake monster will ever compare to the famous and quintessential cryptid, the Loch Ness Monster, but the Okoboji lake monster is Iowa’s very own Nessie. Described as a giant “fish” with a head the size of a bowling ball and a dark green hide, Obojoki, as it’s affectionately called by Dickinson County natives, has been brushing the sides of lake-users’ boats for many years. Part tourist industry invention and part Native American legend, evidence of the Spirit Lake creature can be found on user-submitted MySpace videos, paranormal websites, and of course locals’ personal tales. As the stories have it, the Iowa Great Lakes are connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a large subterranean river, giving Obojoki access to the wilds of open ocean. Okoboji visitors are urged to use the lake with caution and an open mind.
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