The Mansi Champ photograph

Sandra Mansi took a photograph on 5 July 1977 that shows what looks like a long-necked animal rising from a lake, the picture behind the Champ story.

Sandra Mansi was on vacation with her family in 1977 when she photographed what looks like an animal with a long neck rising out of the lake. Yankee Magazine dates the picture to the early afternoon of 5 July 1977. Children ask her whether she was scared and whether she thinks it is a dinosaur. She is unsure what she saw and makes no claim of being an authority. The magazine adds that every serious discussion of Champ, the creature reported in the lake, begins with her image.

Wikipedia records that the bay where the photograph was reportedly taken is 14 feet deep at most. Joe Nickell considers a giant creature unlikely to swim or hide in such shallow water. Others have suggested the object is a rising tree trunk or log. Benjamin Radford interviewed Mansi, analysed the photo and investigated at the lake with Nickell. He describes a few details of the case that failed to add up.