Mysterious creatures and ancient legends

Borneo: An aerial photograph of a giant snake swimming in a river has prompted speculation that a giant creature is stalking the island Photograph: Public Domain

Loch Ness, near Inverness, Scotland: A view of the Loch Ness monster, 19 April 1934. The image, one of two known as the 'surgeon's photographs', was allegedly taken by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson, though it was later exposed as a hoax. On his deathbed, a man called Chris Spurling revealed that he had staged the pictures along with Wilson, and Marmaduke and Ian Wetherell. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St Columba's biography in 565 AD Photograph: Keystone/Getty

California, US: Photograph from October 1967 shows what former rodeo rider Roger Patterson said was the American version of the Abominable Snowman. He said pictures of the creature, estimated at 2.3 metres (7.5ft) tall, were taken north-east of Eureka, California Photograph: Bettmann/CORBIS

Himalayas: The footprint of the Abominable Snowman, taken near Mount Everest on 13 December 1951 Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Google Earth image of a grid in the ocean bed off west Africa appears to show the potential site of the lost city of Atlantis. Google denied the claim, saying the lines were sonar data collected as boats mapped the ocean floor Photograph: Public Domain

Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Moai statues are monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui, some of which are thought to date from as early as AD400. The tallest moai, Paro, was almost 10 metres (33 ft) high and weighed 75 tonnes Photograph: Art Wolfe/Getty

Nazca plains, Peru: An ancient geoglyph of a hummingbird on the edge of the Nazca plains was probably inscribed as an offering for fertility in the fields below. The creators, 1,200-2,300 years ago, would have never been able to see the work, as the nearest hills are a few miles away, suggesting it was an attempt to communicate with the heavens Photograph: George Steinmetz/Corbis

Nazca, Peru: A candelabra type form drawn into the desert, north of Nazca, forming part of the Nazca Lines. The purpose of the ancient lines is the subject of intense debate Photograph: Corbis

Stonehenge, near Salisbury, England: One of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at the centre of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England Photograph: Jason Hawkes/Getty