Slide Show Narrative:
Thunder Bay was designated a national marine sanctuary to
protect more than 100 shipwrecks in the part of Lake Huron
known as Shipwreck Alley. In this area near Alpena, Michigan,
the sunken vessels carried goods such as wood products,
grain, iron ore, coal, and passengers that were the backbone
of the Great Lakes commerce. Thunder Bay is a resting place
for a large number of steel propellers, especially those
from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when vessel
design was changing rapidly. The area is now a popular site
for recreational scuba divers. Mapping the wrecks and detailed
archeological studies are part of efforts to manage the
sanctuary. There are plans for a shipwreck trail and underwater
video hookups that will allow public viewing of the wrecks
from shore.
Photo Credits:
Walter Hoagman, Michigan State University Extension
Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green
University
NOAA Ocean Explorer Web site
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