In 2009, residents of the coastal town of Kiryat Yam began reporting sightings of a mermaid-like figure off the shore, described as a young woman with a fish’s tail who appeared at sunset before vanishing into the waves. The local council even offered a $1 million reward for proof, drawing international media attention and waves of visitors. While no evidence was ever confirmed, occasional reports of the mysterious sea figure still surface, keeping the Kiryat Yam mermaid legend alive.