"Fañanito" - The monster at Lake Fagnano

 

Lake Fagnano Creature

Online there is a fantastic tale of fresh plesiosaur remains that were discovered by this Fuegian Lake in 1927.[1] The story is absolutely false.

Lake Fagnano (54°34’ S, 68°00’ W), in Tierra del Fuego Island, is not only the home of the last Yosi dwarves [we will write about them in another post] it is also the abode of a lake monster, “Fañanito”.

The lake is an elongated and narrow body of water is 645 km² [249 sq. mi.] over 100 km [62 mi.] hence its name “Kami” (long) in Selk’nam language; with very cold water, averaging only 4°C (39°F).

I have posted a map here showing southern Tierra del Fuego where you can see the lake (upper - central part of the map).

Many neighbors and old settlers at the lakeside village of Tolhuin have “heard about the monster but not seen it”,[2] it goes by the name “Fañanito”. A neighbor of Tolhuin reported that while sailing the lake in a boat, he was trailing his hand in the water when a “large head appeared suddenly and looked at him, and then submerged without leaving any trace. The man screamed, startling the people; the boat turned around but they did not see it again”.[2]

Beavers (Castor canadensis) were introduced into Tierra del Fuego in 1946 by the Argentine Navy to establish a fur industry in the region. The venture failed and the animals were set free in Lake Fagnano. Lack of predators and a favorable habitat favored their proliferation. They have caused considerable damage to the island’s forests and expanded their range to neighboring islands. It is therefore quite probable to sight a large head bobbing on the lake’s surface.
Monsters indeed –of Canadian origin- but not monsters of the "creepy" or "mysterious" kind!

Bibliography.

[1] Jarré, S., (2004). Guarida de Monstruos. Los 32 rumbos de la Rosa de los Vientos. Año 1. N° 3. IV: 42 – 47.
[2] Kaikén, J., (2006). Tolhuin Historias del Pueblo. Fañanito. Historias de Tolhuin. 23.10.2006. (Spanish language blog).


Copyright 2009 by Austin Whittall ©

Patagonian Monsters