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Originally posted by SevenZeroOne
Darklanser, that is VERY interesting and compelling theory there. I had never thought of that.
However, I'm unfamiliar with the Lake Van geography and climate. Giant Squid need salt water of course, and also live in VERY deep waters of th ocean.
Does lake van connect to the ocean? If so I suppose it would be possible for something like that to swim in. And most importantly, is Lake van a salt water body?
Situated at 1719 meters above sea level it receives a few short streams but has no outlet. That is why its waters are unusually rich in sodium carbonate and other salts extracted by evaporation and used as detergents. Swimming in these brackish, "soda" waters, where the only surviving fish is the herring, may result as an original experience, indeed.
Due to the annual inflow, higher than evaporation, the lake level continues to rise: several peninsulas have become islands during the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1986-1995 time period a dramatic 2.16 m rise in water level occurred.
There is little left from the original dense wood along its shores. The only remains of ancient woods are in a very small region on the southwestern shore. The intensive pasture of huge Kurdish herds and deforestation for firewood erased even the memory.
Squid have more than one way to get around. One way is to cruise at slow speeds using the paired fins at the rear of the mantle, combined with gentle, rhythmic pulses of water pushed out of the mantle cavity through the funnel. Squid expand the mantle cavity by contracting sets of muscles within the mantle, water fills the expanded space, the muscles relax, and the elastic mantle then snaps back to a smaller size, jetting water out through the funnel. The jet of water closes the flaps on either side of the squid's head so water can exit only through the funnel. This rhythmic flow of water is also the way in which squid breathe. As water passes in and out, the gills are refreshed with oxygen.
Originally posted by SevenZeroOne
Just curious Darklanser, but did you come up with the giant squid theory? If so, I think that's quite a find.
That sounds like one of the best theories into what this thing is I've heard...
I wonder if any scientists who have studied the video have thought about that? Or if they immediately dismissed it as a hoax...
Originally posted by darklanser
It's a few years old. I looked for any reference on ATS but couldn't find any. If there are any previous posts, please remove this thread.
Ok..that said. What do you think this is? Here is the link to the video, and here's the story link.
It looks sort of like a giant squid or octopus to me.
[Edited on 11-9-2003 by darklanser]