Memphre (folklore)
Memphre is a legendary lake monster believed to inhabit Lake Memphremagog, which lies on the border between the United States and Canada. The lore surrounding Memphre dates back to indigenous legends, with the first documented sighting occurring in 1816. Over the years, more than two hundred individuals have reported encounters with the creature, describing it in various forms, from a serpent-like beast to a massive creature with multiple legs. These sightings have evolved, with witnesses claiming different lengths and physical characteristics, such as a long neck or a horse-like head.
Lake Memphremagog itself is a deep glacial lake, about 30 miles long, formed approximately eleven thousand years ago. The name Memphremagog originates from the Algonquin language, meaning "large expanse of waters." Although there has been no definitive evidence to confirm Memphre's existence, the cultural significance of the creature is notable; it has become an integral part of Quebec's folklore and was even featured on a Canadian quarter issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. The legend continues to intrigue both locals and visitors, leading to the establishment of the Dracontology Society of Lake Memphremagog, dedicated to studying this enduring mystery.
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Memphre (folklore)
Memphre is the name of a mysterious lake monster said to live in Lake Memphremagog on the United States-Canadian border. The first recorded sighting of Memphre dates back to the early nineteenth century, but the creature has also been part of indigenous legends for centuries. By the twenty-first century, more than two hundred people had claimed to have seen the creature, with reports of its appearance varying over time. Although no one had yet found proof of Memphre’s existence, the legendary monster has earned a place in the folklore of Quebec, and has been honored by the Canadian government with its own coin.
Overview
Lake Memphremagog is a 30-mile (48-kilometer) long lake that straddles the US-Canadian border in northeastern Vermont and southern Quebec. The lake was formed by glaciers about eleven thousand years ago and stretches from the town of Magog, Quebec, to Newport, Vermont. About three-quarters of the lake is on the Canadian side. The name Memphremagog comes from the Algonquin language and means “large expanse of waters.”
According to local legend, the indigenous people of the region had long believed that a giant creature lived in Lake Memphremagog. When European settlers first arrived in the area, it is said the indigenous residents warned them not to swim in the lake for fear of the creature. The oldest documented sighting of the monster occurred in 1816 when a man and his wife claimed to see a creature with twelve to fifteen pairs of legs swimming in the lake. Over the coming decades, other sightings described the creature as a serpent-like beast or a log-shaped creature with a head sticking out of the water. In 1850, a local author wrote a poem painting the monster as a bloodthirsty killer, roaming the lake and devouring victims.
Although that description of Memphre was purely fictitious, actual reports of the creature’s appearance have varied widely over time. Sightings from the nineteenth century generally portray Memphre as about 25- to 30-feet (7.6- to 9-meters) long with a 3-foot (1-meter) head. During the twentieth century, some claim they saw a snake-like creature about 50-feet (15.2-meters) long. One report from 2000 says the monster was 75-feet (23-meters) long with a horse-like head. Memphre’s physical characteristics have also changed based on the specific accounts from eyewitnesses. Some have described it as a “long-necked seal,” others as a giant sea horse, a large-snouted alligator, swimming black humps, or an eel- or snake-like sea serpent.
Memphre is only one of several lake monsters supposedly living in the region’s deep lakes, with the more famous Champ said to reside in Lake Champlain to the west. While several attempts have been made to prove Memphre’s existence, only partial sightings of its head, tail, or body have been reported. However, its legend has captured the imagination of people in the region and led to the formation of the Dracontology Society of Lake Memphremagog in 1986 in an attempt to study the creature. The legend even inspired the Royal Canadian Mint to produce a twenty-five-cent coin with the creature’s likeness on it in 2011.
Bibliography
“About Memphre.” Kingdom Games, 2020, kingdomgames.co/about-memphre/. Accessed 14 July 2020.
Burmon, Andrew. “Lake Memphremagog: The Legend of Memphre, a Monster Which Sits In The Quebec/Vermont Lake.” Huffington Post, 5 Nov. 2012, www.huffpost.com/entry/quebecs-lake-memphremagog‗n‗1966470. Accessed 13 July 2020.
“Do you believe in Memphré?” Sherbrooke Record, 11 June 2019, www.sherbrookerecord.com/do-you-believe-in-memphre/. Accessed 13 July 2020.
“Lake Memphremagog.” Magog, Québec, 2020, www.magogquebec.ca/en/lake-memphremagog/. Accessed 13 July 2020.
Lindholm, Jane, and Ric Cengeri. “Champ: Myth, Reality or Just a Bit of Fun?” Vermont Public Radio, 15 July 2019, www.vpr.org/post/champ-myth-reality-or-just-bit-fun#stream/0. Accessed 13 July 2020.
“Mythical Quebec Monster on Canadian Coin.” CBC/Radio-Canada, 17 July 2011, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mythical-quebec-monster-on-canadian-coin-1.1126968. Accessed 13 July 2020.
Newton, Michael. “Memphré.” Hidden Animals: A Field Guide to Batsquatch, Chupacabra, and Other Elusive Creatures. Greenwood, 2009, pp. 84–85.
Radford, Benjamin, and Joe Nickell. “Lake Memphremagog.” Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World’s Most Elusive Creatures. UP of Kentucky, 2006, pp. 71–77.