Thunder Bay NMS & Underwater Preserve

[MUPC]

Welcome to Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary
What?
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the thirteenth national marine sanctuary in a system that extends from American Samoa to Massachusetts. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was established to protect a nationally significant collection of over 100 shipwrecks, spanning over a century of Great Lakes shipping history. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary represents many "firsts" for the National Marine Sanctuary Program:

First Great Lakes sanctuary.
First sanctuary to focus solely on a large collection of underwater cultural resources.
First sanctuary located entirely in state waters.



Where?
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 448 square miles of northwest Lake Huron, off the northeast coast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The landward boundary of the sanctuary is marked by the northern and southern limits of Alpena County, and the sanctuary extends east from the lakeshore to longitude 83 degrees west. The largest city in the vicinity is Alpena.

Why?
NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program focuses on protecting our nation's marine resources - both natural and cultural. Before NOAA can designate a national marine sanctuary, the proposed sanctuary must be shown to contain resources of "special national significance" because of their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic qualities.

The addition of Thunder Bay to the sanctury system enhances NOAA's management of underwater cultural resources in a number of ways. Lake Huron's cold, fresh waters have created a remarkable state of shipwreck preservation that is unmatched by the other sanctuaries' saltwater environments. Thunder Bay's collection of shipwrecks represents the diversity of vessels that navigated the Great Lakes in the 19th and 20th centuries. These sunken ships reflect transitions in vessel architecture and construction while conveying stories of Great Lakes transportation and commerce. The known wrecks rest as close to the surface as 12 feet and as deep as 180 feet. Some of the wreck sites remain largely intact while other sites are only remnants of vessels' boilers, engines, rudders, windlasses, and anchors. However, the known wrecks are only a small section of the total wreckages that have occured. Many of the wrecks remain undiscovered.

These vessels still have stories to tell of Great Lakes maritime history and commerce, from the earliest explorations to westward expansion in the 1800s and modern day lake trade. Through exploration, education, and research, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will bring to the American public the lore of Great Lakes maritime heritage.

Who?
NOAA and the State of Michigan have established a partnership to cooperatively manage the sanctuary's underwater cultural resources. A 15-member Sanctuary Advisory Council representing the local communities has provided recommendations to NOAA and the State of Michigan concerning sanctuary management.

For more information, see Designation Process or a Detailed Timeline.

How?
Sanctuary activities focus on resource protection, education, and research. Priority activities include placing mooring buoys at identified shipwrecks, initiating an inventory and documentation of shipwrecks, and developing a maritime heritage education program.

Shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay Region

The shipwrecks of Thunder Bay constitute a microcosm of the Great Lakes commercial shipping industry spanning the last two hundred years. The collection reflects transitions in ship architecture and construction, from wooden schooners to early steel-hulled steamers, as well as several unusual vessel types.


Known Shipwrecks - A list of the vessels that have been located in the Thunder Bay region. Caution: This is a long page and may take some time to load.

Possible Shipwrecks - A list of 65 vessels that may be located in the Thunder Bay region (according to historical records), but whose remains have not been located.

Vessel Types - A discussion of vessel construction, including examples located or thought to be located in the Thunder Bay region.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was designated in 2000 as one of only 13 national marine sanctuaries in the United States by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The designation creates the first Great Lakes national marine sanctuary and builds on the existing state underwater preserve designated in 1981. It is only the second national marine sanctuary created solely to protect submerged cultural resources. NOAA and the State of Michigan jointly manage the sanctuary and underwater preserve.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve will focus on cultural resource protection, education, research and recreation. Recently completed activities include an archaeological survey of Thunder Bay and installing a mooring buoy system at certain wrecks. The sanctuary and underwater preserve plans to establish video links from wrecks to classrooms. A maritime heritage center will open in 2005. The 488 square mile sanctuary and underwater preserve has one of the highest densities of shipwrecks per square mile of any point on the Great Lakes and offers a variety of shipwrecks and natural attractions. Divers will find many shipwrecks in a protected bay as well as many fascinating sites just beyond the bay itself. Great visibility makes underwater photography especially popular in this preserve.

The Nordmeer is one of the most popular dive sites of the sanctuary and underwater preserve. It has been described as 550 feet of "pure delight" This German steel steamer stranded on the rocks of Thunder Bay Shoal in November 1966. Because the maximum depth at this site is only 40 feet, this is a great place for those who have little or no shipwreck diving experience. The hull of the Nordmeer is intact and large cargo hatches provide easy access and permit sunlight to penetrate the interior. Next to the wreck of the Nordmeer is a steel barge that also provides exploration opportunities.

The Montana was a 235 foot steamer that burned and sank in 1914. The wreck lies in 70 feet of water and rises 30 feet from the bottom. Some of the hull of the Montana remains and divers enjoy inspecting many of the artifacts that are associated with this wreck, including the machinery. This site usually hosts many fish and it is a good place for underwater photography. Divers with basic skills can view the engine at 40 feet. Intermediate divers will enjoy exploring other portions of the wreck.

East of the Montana lies the wreck of the Grecian, a steamer that sank in 1906. Several salvage attempts failed and the remains of the steam engine offer divers a fascinating experience. The deck of the Grecian lies in 75 feet of water.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve offers many shallow shipwrecks perfect for those new to the Great Lakes shipwrecks diving. Many dive sites have been buoyed by the local dive club. Dive charter services are available. Shore diving is very limited because of the shallows and beaches.