The Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water. The first written account of the monster appears in a 7th-century biography of St. Columba, who banished the creature to Loch Ness after it bit a swimmer. The legend of Nessie gained worldwide attention in 1933 when a couple saw an enormous animal crossing their cars path and disappearing into the water. Since then, numerous sightings have been reported, but evidence of its existence is anecdotal with a number of disputed photographs and sonar readings. In 2018, researchers conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness to determine what organisms live in the waters, and no signs of a plesiosaur or other such large animal were found, though the results indicated the presence of numerous eels. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the mystery of Nessie continues to draw tourists to the shores of Loch Ness.