Hundreds of people from around the world have gathered at Scotland’s Loch Ness in what has been described as the most extensive search for the Loch’s infamous monster, Nessie, in 50 years.

This includes media from America, Japan and Australia reporting on the event.

There are reports that some have heard what is being described as mystery sounds from Loch Ness’ depths. The lake which is 37 kilometers long, reaches 233 meters (ca. 764 ft) at its deepest point and contains more water than all the remaining lakes in England and Wales combined.

The Daily Mail provides more details on the mysterious sounds: 

“The unexplained sounds were logged near the beast’s ‘favourite’ Scottish haunt as scientists and volunteers scanned the waters.”

“Alan McKenna, from Edinburgh, took part on a boat using a hydrophone system, which he said ‘is an underwater microphone so we can listen to the underwater world of Loch Ness’.”

“He said a test of the system on Friday had already raised questions about Nessie’s whereabouts: ‘When we were testing the equipment, we did hear four distinctive noises that we didn’t know where it was coming from.”

Though the Loch Ness monster became popular in the 1930s, the first recorded sighting was actually made by St. Columbia an Irish missionary visiting the area in 565 AD.

According to the official records, there have been 1,156 reported sightings of the monster over the centuries.

READ: Nessie hunters hear ‘four distinctive noises’ in biggest search for Loch Ness Monster in 50 years: Volunteers from as far away as Texas and Australia say they have picked up mystery sounds on underwater microphone