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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