Boogeymen: Monsters Among Us

For almost two centuries, tourists have been flocking to the waters of Lake Champlain hoping against the odds to glimpse the lake monster they've affectionately dubbed Champ. Learn about one of the oldest monster legends in the world.

The natural beauty of Australia's Byron Bay attract over one million visitors per year. These tourists probably don't suspect the presence of a mysterious creature known locally as the Devil Dog. It could well be a species of animal long thought extinct in the region: the thylacine, better known as the Tasmanian tiger. This half-dog, half-kangaroo with fangs has been extinct since the 1930s.

In the dense forests of the Appalachians, there lives a rare and still unidentified class of creature. Physically imposing, with traits characteristic of wolves, bears and even gorillas, this strange monster strikes fear into anyone who wanders into his presence, especially since it has a reputation of attacking small farm animals and human beings. Some see it as a Dog-Man or American werewolf.

Since 1735, legend has it that a demonic creature has stalked the woods of one of America's oldest states. There are two images of the monster: one, a terrifying creature that has haunted New Jersey for centuries; the other, an invention of marketers to sell merchandise. The Devil has given its name not just to hockey teams but to shops, wine, musical bands and a dizzying array of memorabilia.

The Sasquatch, sometimes referred to as Bigfoot, has haunted the forests of North America's West Coast for centuries. It's imposing silhouette was seen by dozens of people over the years, but to this day we are still wondering if it's a figment of the imagination. The most detailed theory traces its roosts to Asia during the Ice Age, followed by a migration to America across the Bering Strait.

Westmoreland County, in western Pennsylvania, is a region rife with reports of paranormal sightings and occurrences. A number of witnesses have seen a flying creature that resembles no known bird in existence. Some who say they saw the giant bird are hunters with intimate knowledge of wilderness and wildlife. Others are local residents who swear they've seen small dogs snatched by a giant bird.

In the 1990s, the Chupacabra spread fear into the hearts of rural Texans. According to some reports, it has dark grey, leathery skin and fearsome red eyes. But while some people debate whether it walks on two or four legs, everyone agrees its long fangs, thorny spine and claws. There was no physical evidence supporting its existence - until a resident of Dewitt County made a gruesome discovery.

The Mothman legend captivates tourists from all over the world, who pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to visit sighting locations, question locals and tour the Mothman museum or buy Mothman memorabilia. The monster is now a local celebrity.

What is it about sleepy Adams, Tennessee, that attracts tourists eager to visit graveyards, haunted caves and cabins, swap scary stories and try to summon the spirits of the dead? The legend of the Bell Witch and a 200-year old haunting are they key.

Each year, tourists with no interest in skiing or scenic views flock to the Austrian town of Klagenfurt to do a different kind of sightseeing: they're after a glimpse of the legendary Tatzelwurm creature, or the chance to drink a beer and discuss it.

In the town of Willow Creek in northern California, the legend of Bigfoot, an ape-like monster believed to be a missing link between man's evolutionary leap from monkeys, is taken more seriously than anywhere else in the world, with organized hunting expeditions, statues and even a museum - but is there any substance to the mythology?

The city of Kelowna in British Columbia's beautiful Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's most fertile swaths of land, is home to a legend nearly two centuries old. In the depths of Okanagan Lake, a monster known as Ogopogo, described as a 10-15 meter long serpent, has been sighted on and off since the 19th century. Discover one of Canada's oldest and most enduring legends.

A 19th century legend has put the town of Rhinelander, Wisconsin on the map, a must-visit location for those interested in American folklore and the supernatural, as Rhinelander is the home of the Hodag, a mythical beast transformed into a town mascot.