Israeli Town Will Pay $1M for Mermaid Pic

Mermaid fever has hit the Israeli town of Kiryat Yam: Several eyewitnesses recently reported spotting the mythical creature—described as a cross between a girl and a dolphin—frolicking off the coast at sunset. Whether that’s true or not, tourists have been flocking to Kiryat Yam in hopes of catching a glimpse, and local officials are fueling the buzz by offering $1 million to anyone who snaps her picture.

“People are telling us they are sure they have seen the mermaid, and they are all independent of each other,” said a local council spokesman. “I believe if there really is a mermaid, then so many people will come to Kiryat Yam, a lot more money will be made than $1 million.” (More Israel stories.)