Melting ice has revealed the outlines of shipwrecks at the bottom of Lake Michigan, and images captured by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew are going viral.
On a routine patrol, the Northern Michigan Coast Guard shot photos from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and posted six of them on Facebook.
The wrecks photographed include the Rising Sun, a wooden steamer that sank in 1917, and the James McBride, a
brig that ran aground in 1857, Michigan Live reported.
Another shipwreck, the Jennie & Annie, which went under in 1872, shows up every few years, MLive said, and it’s been visible from the beach recently.
“Due to factors like beach erosion, wind and waves and variable lake levels, various wreck fragments make somewhat regular appearances along the dunes shoreline. The wrecks are considered property of the state and cannot legally be disturbed,” Michigan Live said.
Michigan Preserves has posted information on many of the shipwrecks that dot Lake Michigan.
About the Rising Sun, the site said, “This 133 foot long wooden steamer stranded just north of Pyramid Point on October 29, 1917. She went to pieces and her wreckage now rests in 6 to 12 feet of water.”
Many went on the Coast Guard’s Facebook post to say how much they appreciated the photos.
“Pretty sweet to see history so crystal clear! Gotta love our GREAT LAKES!!!” one person wrote.
“Thanks for sharing. The clarity is amazing allowing us the ability to zoom in,” another said.
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