For the skeptics out there, it's worth noting that the Komodo Dragon, Colossal Squid, and Platypus are some of the many creatures that were considered cryptids before being proven real. With that in mind, here are 20 mystical and strange creatures that have locals around the world convinced of their existence.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels1. Skinwalker
In Navajo culture, the Skinwalker is a shapeshifting witch who must commit heinous acts to unlock its ulterior form. What makes it extra interesting are the numerous videos people have posted of Skinwalker sightings—further fueling the fire of its existence.
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2. Djinns
In Islamic cultures, the djinn is intertwined with history and religion, and many members of the faith believe it without doubt. While some assume their house are haunted by ghosts, Muslims are more likely to attribute supernatural activity to djinn.
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3. Hopkinsville Goblins
For the town of Hopkinsville, goblins are very much real, and they come from outer space. A farmhouse claimed to have been besieged by several of these creatures for hours, leading to a firefight that lit up the night. The most compelling part is that when police officers went to investigate, they found undeniable evidence of an all-out battle.
4. Elves
In Iceland, elves—also known as the hidden folk—are a fact of life. In fact, so many people believe in their existence that the country prevents construction projects that disturb the natural homes of supposed elves.
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5. Shadow People
The shadow people refer to an ongoing paranormal phenomenon, where many report seeing dark figures flickering through their homes. The next time you see a silhouette in the corner of your eye, see how long it lingers.
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6. The Wendigo
In Native American culture, in the cold of winters, those who sate their starvation by unspeakable means find themselves turning into the Wendigo. While some consider this monster a metaphor, others believe it roams the forests of the Great Lakes. It takes on the voices of your loved ones, calling you closer to the darkness.
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7. Mongolian Worm
Believed to exist in the Gobi Desert, the Mongolian worm is a ginormous serpent-like creature that matches its iteration in the movie Dune. In Mongolia, this creature is inseparable from historical legends, and locals believe it to be true, even warning foreigners as they venture into the desert.
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8. Gnomes
Similar to elves, gnomes are a subsect of the fae that dwells in forests around the world. Surprisingly, many claim to have encountered these small creatures while hiking or mushroom picking. In many cultures and villages, the existence of the fae is simply a fact.
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9. The Flatwoods Monster
In 1952, there was a UFO sighting that lit up a county in West Virginia. Mere days later, townsfolk reported seeing the Flatwoods monster, which was an alien-like creature dressed in a strange cloak. Many believe this to be an extraterrestrial encounter.
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10. Thunderbird
Another creature from Native American lore, the thunderbird is a massive bird known to bring on the storms. For the Algonquian people in Canada, the thunderbird is an undeniable protector hidden by dark clouds and bolts of lightning.
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11. Sea Serpents
The sheer number of sightings of sea serpents indicates their prevalence in the oceans of the world. In historical times, many sailors were aware of and afraid of massive ocean beasts. Nowadays, some of these behemoths have been proven to be all too real, and many suspect there are even bigger serpents lurking beneath the depths.
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12. The Dover Demon
This strange creature was first sighted in Massachusetts in 1977 and led to an immediate media frenzy due to its strange alien-like appearance. Many others reported seeing the creature shortly after, describing the frightful experience in detail.
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13. Mothman
Many people believe in West Virginia’s Mothman. However, some believe the monster to be a prophetic warning, as it has been sighted near bridges or crashes moments before they occur. Either way, this beloved cryptid has taken the nation by storm since a couple first spotted it in 1966.
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14. Yeti
In the Himalayas, the Yeti is a common encounter that many people have reported spotting. With videos and pictures to sort through, this furry humanoid shares many similarities with the North American Bigfoot.
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15. Giants
Many religious stories involve giants, which has led numerous people to believe in them to this day. They are even casually mentioned in many historical encounters. The giant of Kandahar, in particular, refers to a giant who battled American soldiers in the mountains of Afghanistan. Either way, the people in the region believe giants have existed among them for ages.
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16. Chupacabra
The Chupacabra has many variants across the world, with the first major sighting occurring in Puerto Rico in the 1980s. Since then, the creature—or other members of its species—has worked its way through Latin America, preying on livestock and leaving goats as evidence of its existence.
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17. Loch Ness Monster
While scientific technology has failed to prove the existence of this beast, many still believe it was once real. Perhaps the creature has since passed, but those in Scotland remember it fondly as the gentle giant of the lake.
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18. Fairies
Much like the pagans of the past, indigenous cultures around the world believe in fairies—whether that pertains to nature spirits or winged women. Even Scandinavian countries have embraced fairies and believe them to be a part of the natural world, while Europeans believed them to be intrinsic to magic.
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19. Bigfoot
Everyone has heard of Bigfoot, and while some dismiss it as nothing more than a hoax—there is a lot of evidence to sift through. Most North American campers have storied encounters involving the beast, and while many have attempted to find this creature, most are left with blurred photos and strange sound recordings.
20. Mokele Mbembe
For those who don’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster, it may be surprising to hear that dinosaur sightings are common across the world. One such sighting involves the Mokele Mbembe, which is known to live in the Congo River Basin and is revered by the locals.
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