Since commercial shipping first began on the Great Lakes, there have been nearly 6,000 shipwrecks! The remnants of half of these shipwrecks have never been found.
The term "Great Lakes" is somewhat misleading. The five Great Lakes constitute what is essentially an inland sea, representing America's north coast, a reservoir that contains nearly a fifth of the fresh water on our planet.
Cruising and navigating Lake Superior can be risky indeed. The "Big Lake" takes pleasure boaters (and commercial captains alike) by surprise. And Lake Superior is the site of many historic shipwrecks. The Apostle Islands area offers divers a unique opportunity to view a number of these wrecks up close.
Here's a partial list of Apostle Islands shipwrecks:
- The schooner Lucerne sank in 1886, off Long Island. She went down in a major storm. The craft's hull is clearly visible from the surface. The Lucerne site is marked by a mooring buoy.
- The freighter Sevona sank in 1905. As with the Lucerne, the Sevona was hit by a major northeaster and grounded. Her hull can be found north of Sand Island, not far from the Bayfield mainland.
- The barge Pretoria also sank in 1905 as a result of storm damage. Her remnants can be found northeast of Outer Island.
- Tugboat Ottawa sank in 1909, after falling victim to an onboard fire. The sunken tug may be seen in Red Cliff harbor, near Bayfield.
- The steamer Fedora sank in 1901, also a casualty caused by fire. Her remains are just north of Buffalo Bay.
- The Noquebay was a schooner which caught fire and sank in 1905. The wreck lies off Stockton Island, not far from Madeline Island.
Most of the above sites are conspicuously marked with buoys during boating season. Divers may contact the National Park Service for information on diving these historic shipwreck sites. You'll also find extensive historical information on Great Lakes shipwrecks at the "Wisconsin's Great Lakes Shipwrecks" site, funded by the Wisconsin Historical Society and by a UW sea grant.
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