Monster of the Deep

It was 1873. A fisherman was sailing in his boat. He saw something in the water. 

He sailed over and poked it with a hook. 

Suddenly, the thing rose out of the ocean. Its long arms slapped at the water. A giant tentacle landed across the small boat. 

The fisherman grabbed an ax. He cut off the tentacle! 

The huge monster let go of the boat. Then it slipped back into the water. 

The fisherman was left with the long tentacle. He was also left with a big question.

What was that thing?

It was 1873. A fisherman was in his boat. He saw something in the water.

He sailed over to it. Then he poked it with a hook.

Suddenly, it rose out of the ocean. It had giant tentacles. One of them landed on the boat.

The fisherman grabbed an ax. He cut off the tentacle! The creature let go of the boat. It went back into the water.

The fisherman was left with the long tentacle. He was also left with a question.

What was that thing?

In 1873, a fisherman was sailing in his boat when he saw something in the water. He sailed over it and poked it with a hook.

Suddenly, the thing rose out of the ocean. Its long arms slapped at the water, and a giant tentacle landed across the small boat.

The fisherman grabbed an ax and cut off the tentacle! The huge monster let go of the boat and slipped back into the water.

The fisherman was left with the long tentacle. He was also left with a big question.

What was that thing?

For thousands of years, sailors have told stories of sea monsters. The monsters in their stories were huge. They used giant arms to grab sailors and eat them. They pulled ships down to the bottom of the sea. 

The most famous of these monsters was called the kraken. For a long time, scientists could not prove these stories were true. They thought the stories were just told for fun. 

That all changed on that day in 1873. 

Sailors have always told stories of sea monsters. The monsters in their stories were huge. They used giant arms to grab sailors. The monsters would eat the sailors. They pulled ships down to the bottom of the sea.

The most famous of these monsters was called the kraken. For a long time, scientists could not prove the stories were true. They thought the stories were just told for fun.

That all changed on that day in 1873. 

For thousands of years, sailors have told stories of sea monsters. The monsters were enormous, with giant arms that they used to grab sailors and devour them. The monsters also dragged ships to the bottom of the sea.

The most famous of these monsters was called the kraken. For a long time, scientists could not prove these stories were true. They thought the stories were just told for fun.

That all changed on that day in 1873. 

Over time, scientists learned more about giant squid. They were sure that giant squid were real. How did they know? Sometimes, dead ones would wash up on beaches. 

Scientists studied them. They learned that giant squid have the biggest eyes of any animal. They learned that many giant squid weigh hundreds of pounds. Giant squid can grow as long as a school bus. 

They also learned why giant squid are so hard to find. Giant squid live deep in the ocean. For a long time, people were not able to go that deep under the sea. They did not have the technology to do it. 

No one had ever seen a giant squid alive. No one had seen one swim or eat. Scientists had so many questions. 

Would they ever see a living giant squid? Could they even get a photo of one under the sea?

Scientists learned more about giant squid. They knew the animals were real. They found dead ones on beaches.

Scientists studied them. They learned that giant squid have the biggest eyes of any animal. They learned that the animals can weigh hundreds of pounds and can grow as long as a school bus.

They also learned why giant squid are so hard to find. Giant squid live deep in the ocean. At the time, scientists were not able to go that deep. They did not have the tools or technology to do it.

No one had ever seen a giant squid alive. Scientists had questions. Would they ever see a living giant squid? Could they get a photo of one?

Over time, scientists learned more about giant squid. They were sure that giant squid were real because occasionally dead ones would wash up on beaches.

Scientists studied them. They learned that giant squid have the biggest eyes of any animal. They learned that many giant squid weigh hundreds of pounds and can grow as long as a school bus.

They also learned why giant squid are so hard to find. Giant squid live deep in the ocean, and at the time, people were not able to go that deep under the sea. They did not have the technology to do it.

No one had ever seen a giant squid alive. No one had seen one swim or eat. Scientists had so many questions. Would they ever see a living giant squid, and could they get a photo of one under the sea?

In the 1960s, people invented new submarines that let them go deep into the sea. At last, scientists could go thousands of feet underwater. Teams of scientists started searching for giant squid. They called themselves “squid squads.”

Years went by. The scientists saw amazing animals that no one had seen before. But they could not find a giant squid.

In the 1960s, people invented new submarines. They could go deep into the sea. Scientists could now go thousands of feet underwater. Scientists started searching for giant squid. They called themselves “squid squads.”

Years went by. The scientists saw amazing animals, but they could not find a giant squid.

In the 1960s, people invented new submarines that let them go deep into the sea. At last, scientists could go thousands of feet underwater. Teams of scientists called “squid squads” started searching for giant squid. 

Years went by. The scientists saw amazing animals that no one had seen before, but they could not find a giant squid.  

In 2004, a team of scientists had an idea. They knew that some whales eat giant squid. They followed those whales. They hoped this might be a way to see a giant squid.

The scientists sent a camera deep underwater to where the whales lived. Then they watched and waited, hoping a giant squid would be near.

At last, they saw a large animal. It was as long as a school bus. Its eyes were as big as basketballs. And it had eight long arms and two tentacles. It was a giant squid! 

It waved its arms. The camera took more than 500 pictures. Scientists finally had photos of a living giant squid!

Since then, scientists have taken videos and more photos of giant squid. 

They are learning more and more about these incredible animals. But they still have so many questions. How many are there in the oceans? How old can they get? How deep in the ocean can they swim? 

Maybe someday, you’ll be the one to answer them! 

In 2004, a team of scientists had an idea. They knew that some whales eat giant squid. They followed those whales. They hoped this might be a way to see a giant squid.

The scientists sent a camera deep underwater. They watched. They waited.

At last, they saw a large animal. It was as long as a school bus. Its eyes were as big as basketballs. It had eight long arms and two tentacles. It was a giant squid!

It waved its arms. The camera took more than 500 pictures. Scientists finally had photos of a living giant squid!

Since then, scientists have taken videos and more photos of giant squid.

They have learned about these incredible animals. But they still have so many questions. How many are there? How old can they get? How deep can they swim?

Maybe someday, you’ll be the one to answer them! 

In 2004, a team of scientists had an idea. They knew that some whales eat giant squid, so they followed those whales. They hoped this would lead them to a giant squid.

The scientists sent a camera deep underwater to a place where the whales were often seen. Then they watched and waited, hoping a giant squid would be near.

At last, they saw a large animal. It was as long as a school bus, and its eyes were as big as basketballs. It had eight long arms and two tentacles. It was a giant squid!

It waved its arms while a camera took more than 500 pictures. Scientists finally had photos of a living giant squid!

Since then, scientists have taken videos and more photos of giant squid.

They are learning more and more about these incredible animals. But they still have so many questions. How many are there in the oceans? How old can they get? How deep in the ocean can they swim?

Maybe someday, you’ll be the one to answer them!