Yet many stories tie mermaidAcross civilizations, you’ll find stories of Mer-folk—from the Hafsfru of Norway to the Ningyo of Japan and the Maneli of the Persian Gulf. Wherever you find people, you will find tales of mermaids. Most mermaids are creatures of the sea, although there are plenty of freshwater legends, too. Half human, half fish, so very water-coded! Yet many stories tie mermaids just as strongly to the element of air.