Yeti

The Yeti, often called the Abominable Snowman in Western culture, is a legendary ape-like creature believed to inhabit the remote Himalayan mountains of Asia. Described as a large, bipedal being covered in brown, grey, or white hair and sometimes portrayed with large, sharp teeth, the Yeti has captured imaginations worldwide despite the lack of conclusive evidence for its existence. Alleged proof includes eyewitness accounts, contested photographs, videos, and plaster casts of oversized footprints, though many such items have been revealed as deliberate hoaxes or misidentifications. Folklorists attribute Yeti stories to a blend of authentic Sherpa folklore and misidentified local wildlife such as bears or yaks wandering through snowy landscapes. The creature bears striking similarities to other cryptids around the world, particularly North America's Bigfoot/Sasquatch, with both legends featuring comparable physical descriptions and habitation patterns in remote, mountainous wilderness areas that remain relatively unexplored by humans. Despite scientific skepticism, the Yeti persists as one of the world's most enduring cryptozoological mysteries, deeply embedded in both Himalayan cultural traditions and global popular culture.