Description:

Looks like a sturgeon, swims like a dolphin and sports a snout like a crocodile? What can it be? Ask anyone around Darien, GA and they’ll tell you.  It’s Altie, short for Altamaha-ha, a cryptid associated with the tidal creeks and estuaries of the Altamaha River it is named for. Yes, Darien was settled by Scottish Highlanders whose folklore include the famous Loch Ness monster but don’t jump to conclusions too quickly.  The sightings and history of the Altamaha-ha come first from the Tama Indians nearly 300 years before the Scottish settlers of Darien.  Modern day sightings (1950’s to 1998) report this creature as being mostly gray with a scaly tail and white to yellow under belly. Size seems to vary between ten and thirty feet in length with a circumference of five to six feet. It’s doubtful anyone has taken a tape measure to Altie for a more exact measurement.  After all, what would you do if you were to bump into this creature while taking a swim? So far there are no reports of Altie displaying aggressive behavior towards humans unless you count the foot tickling. Apparently this undulating creature has a habit of tickling the feet of unsuspecting swimmers.

Want to see Darien’s very own sea creature? There are plenty of boats and Coast Guard certified captains and tour guides in Darien to take you out on the water for fishing, history tours, wine cruises, kayaking and bird watching adventures. Any one of these boating expeditions could result in an Altie sighting.  Unfortunately, none guarantee such results. For the best chance of sighting Darien’s own sea creature and photo opportunity make a stop at the Darien/McIntosh Regional Visitor Center at exit 49. The visitor center has a life size replica of the Altamaha-ha and friendly staff with lots of information for visitors.