The Northern Territory is not short of dangerous creatures with saltwater crocs, deadly jellyfish and plenty of poisonous creep crawlies. But one of Darwin’s most popular swimming spots, Lake Alexander, has been closed due to a reported shark sighting. The news sparked long-standing rumours about the Loch-Alexander-Monster to surface once again.
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00:00Lake Alexander, here in Darwin, is a popular spot for picnicking, stand-up paddleboarding
00:08and swimming, and generally it's one of the safer options for somewhere to cool down.
00:13But Lake Alexander has been closed after Darwin City Council received reports of a shark sighting.
00:20While the chances of a shark making its way into a lake may seem unlikely, it's not the
00:25first time something like this has happened here.
00:28In December just last year, the lake was closed for the very same reason.
00:33And two years ago, in 2022, the lake was closed for two weeks, also due to a shark sighting.
00:39In the end, all council were able to find were milkfish and barramundi, which can grow
00:45well in excess of one metre.
00:47So perhaps this is just another case of mistaken identity.
00:51Or is it something more sinister?
00:53Back in 2009, a woman was reportedly attacked by an unidentified sea creature, earning the
01:00name the Loch Alexander Monster.
01:03So is it a fish?
01:04Is it a shark?
01:05Or is it a creature from the deep?
01:07Well, time will tell.
01:09Darwin City Council is working alongside NT Fisheries to search the water, and until
01:14then visitors have been urged to stay on dry land until those reports can be verified.
01:20That hasn't stopped everybody, with some people succumbing to the temptation of that
01:25beautiful blue water.
01:27But for anyone looking to escape the sweltering Darwin heat, the safest option for now is
01:32probably your local swimming pool.