On May 4, 1891, the Atlanta — a schooner— was in tow behind the Wilhelm — a steamer — when strong winds snapped the towing cable connecting the two ships. With no sails, the Atlanta sank 650 feet below the surface. The shipwreck is in excellent condition due to the frigid waters the ship settled in, according to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.
In early 2022, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced that the remains of the 172-foot-long schooner had been located in Lake Superior just over 130 years after it sank. A research team identified the long-lost vessel using sonar and images from a remote-operated vehicle.
Shipwrecks like the Atlanta continue to amaze us, so we're taking a closer look at how ships sink.
There are numerous reasons as to why a ship could sink. The main being flooding and poor weather conditions leading to a loss ...
