|
[ Return to Sea Serpents ]
Location:
Seljord, Telemark, Norway
Description:
Selma is the name of a lake serpent in Norway. Other names used are the Seljord Orm and Seljora.
The sightings came from the lake (Seljordsvatnet) near the town of Seljord, Telemark.
The first sighting was in 1750 by Gunleik Andersson Verpe. He was on a boat in the
middle of the lake, where he claimed a serpent attacked and overturned the boat.
Many locals have claimed to see Selma and she is now on the coat of arms of the town (since 1986).
Descriptions vary, but she seems to be about 5-15 meters long with a head shaped a bit
like a horse or elk. The colouration is dark, sometimes with light undersides.
Small flippers or feet are often described. Usually the serpent is seen swimming
under the surface or moving about on land near the lake.
Various attempts have been made by scientists to find Selma. The main attempts have
been by Jan Sundberg and his team (GUST). They have sonar readings of what might be Selma, but have
so far failed to catch a serpent or get clear pictures.
Some scientists have stated that the lake could not support a large creature.
It is relatively shallow (150 meters at the deepest point) and not very large (15 by 2km). The
lake is also relatively recent (less than 10,000 years old) and not that near the coast. With
that said, this seems to be based on the idea of a large sea serpent. They may still be something
smaller living in the lake. The sightings of the serpents on land might also indicate they are
able to travel across land and possibly supplement food supplies from land sources.
[ Return to Sea Serpents ]
|