Today you can explore a sunken shipwreck from the comfort of your chair: Marine archaeologists will be exploring the underwater remains of the late-1800s wooden freighter Montana at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and broadcasting their efforts in three live webcasts.
The Montana is one of over 200 well-preserved submerged historic sites in "Shipwreck Alley," an area of northern Lake Huron known for extreme weather and dangerous shoals. The freighter burned and sank on Sept. 6, 1914.
The shipwreck is listed to be one in excellent condition, though its bow section is broken off. The remains of the ship sit mostly about 70 to 75 feet (21 to 23 meters) under the water's surface.
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Three webcasts of divers exploring the site will take place from the wreck throughout the day — at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. EST at Immersionlearning.org. Each program will highlight different themes including underwater research techniques, diving technology, and the study of Great Lakes health and ecology through NOAA observation platforms.
Viewers will also be able to interact with the divers by submitting questions on the website.
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 448 square miles of northwest Lake Huron, off the northeast coast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It is the thirteenth national marine sanctuary in a system that extends from American Samoa to Massachusetts.
The sanctuary was established to protect a nationally significant collection of over 100 shipwrecks, spanning over a century of Great Lakes shipping history.
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