Introduction
Lake Superior is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the largest of the Great Lakes by surface area. It is the third-largest freshwater lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the United States. It was formed over 10,000 years ago and has a rich history of both recreational and commercial shipping throughout the years. According to the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association, an estimated 6,000 ships have sunk in the Lake Superior basin over time.
History
Lake Superior has always been a source of trade and travel, with Voyageurs paddling canoes on the lake as early as the 1600s. Commercial ships first came to the Lake in the 1800s, carrying minerals and grain, and the widespread use of steel-hulled steamers led to a significant increase in trade. The demand for ore and grain products was high, and many ships were overloaded and unstable. Combined with the unpredictable and often violent weather on the lake, the situation made it ripe for disaster.
Facts and Figures
From the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, thousands of ships were lost due to storms, collisions and fires. The most famous of these disasters was the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975, which captivated audiences with the tale of the ill-fated vessel. Every year, new discoveries are made in the depths of the lake, and it is estimated that there are still several thousand ships that have not been located. According to records from the U.S. National Park Service, there are currently over 200 known shipwrecks on the bottom of Lake Superior, although the exact number is unknown. Some of these ships have been documented and preserved, while others remain lost and forgotten.
Exploration and Conservation
Technical divers have explored and documented some of Lake Superior’s lost ships, providing valuable insight into the history of the lake. In addition to exploring the wrecks, they are also working on research and conservation efforts to protect them. The waters of Lake Superior are very cold and have a high concentration of oxygen, which has resulted in the wrecks being exceptionally well preserved. These wreck sites serve as an important reminder of our maritime past, and conservation efforts are helping to ensure that future generations will be able to explore and appreciate these sites.
Conclusion
Lake Superior is a vast body of water with an incredible history of maritime shipping, but it has also seen tragedy and disaster. An estimated 6,000 ships have gone down in the lake over the years, and many of these remain undiscovered. However, recent efforts by researchers and conservationists have helped to shed light on the wrecks, and to preserve them for future generations.
