Fancy a Monster-Hunting Holiday?

You've probably heard news reports over the last week about a number of mermaid sightings off the coast of a place called Kirvat Yam in Israel. Now the town council has stumped up $1.2m (£609,000) for anyone who can prove the creature's existence with a photograph.As if the possibility of seeing a woman/fish combination leaping out of the sea wasn't enough to entice a few extra tourists to the area, now those less cynical travellers will be drawn to the possibility of fame and fortune to boot.If you prefer to be logical about these things, you might be inclined to think that the people of Kirvat Yam are just the latest to invent a mythical being to boost the local economy. But I choose to suspend reality just a little; life's much more fun that way. If you like the idea of including a few monster snaps in your holiday album, try one of these sighting hotspots:

• Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Megalodon Shark - This prehistoric creature lived millions of years ago. Estimated to grow up to 60 or 70 feet in length, with a six-foot wide jaw, it's now officially extinct. But in the early 20th century a number of fishermen in Port Stephens claimed to be terrorised by a giant white shark, and stories have drawn people to the area ever since.
• Ontario, Canada: Bigfoot - In July 2008 eyewitnesses spotted an unidentified 8ft tall animal with 'a human-like walk and black fur' in a remote forest. A large six-toed footprint was found in the area 140 miles northeast of Winnipeg shortly afterwards.
• Scotland, United Kingdom: The Loch Ness Monster - Although Nessie has been spotted as far back as the 6th century A.D. it's the modern day accounts that have caught public imagination. The first recorded sighting of the monster on land was made by Mr Spicer and his wife in 1933. From that day, tourists have flooded to the area every year in hope of seeing and photographing the legend.
• Siberia, Russia: The Yeti - In February 2009 the Daily Express reported that more than 10 sightings of large creatures covered in reddish fur, and walking on two legs near a mountain cave had sparked a large-scale hunt, especially as locals feared that hunger would draw them into the villages. Nothing has been found... yet.