Shipwrecks are of great interest to scientists, researchers, and the public alike. Not only are they used to learn and build more formidable ships, but they are also a point of great interest to many people. What does it really take for a ship to thrive? And how much damage can be caused when it doesn’t? There are an estimated 3 million shipwrecks lying on the ocean floor and while improvements are constantly being made, shipwrecks can still occur. There is great mystery surrounding shipwrecks and the potential lost treasure that might be resting on the ocean floor. Here are some of the most famous shipwrecks in history.
The Titanic
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You probably could have guessed that the Titanic would make the list of most famous shipwrecks. Not only did James Cameron make a movie about the incident starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, but the Titanic is one of the most prolific shipwrecks in history. The Titanic was the largest cruise ship of the time and was widely considered the most modern ship of the era. Hundreds of wealthy patrons boarded the ship for the experience of a lifetime. But this “unsinkable” ship did sink when it collided with a glacier. Over 1,000 people lost their lives in this tragic accident and it remains one of the most famous shipwrecks in history.
The Spanish Armada
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The Spanish Armada was a fleet of 130 ships that were sent to invade Europe in 1588. The conflict between Spain and England was based on religious differences and the competition they had with “discovering the new world”. Before they could reach their destination they were stopped by storms and most of the ships sunk, killing over 5,000 soldiers. Hundreds of years later, divers discovered the wreckage of multiple ships that were part of the fleet.
HMS Victory
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The HMS Victory was a naval ship with over 100 guns. It is known as one of the worst British naval disasters, killing more than 1,000 sailors. It disappeared in the English Channel in 1744 and was not found for another 250 years! Finally, in 2008 some remains of the ship were discovered by a U.E. Marine Expedition miles away from where the storm was that caused its disappearance. The remains of the ship are now property of the British Government since the ship was a military wreck.
The Flor de la Mar
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The Flor de la Mar is perhaps the most famous unfound shipwreck of all time. The boat was a Portuguese grand ship that sank off the coast of Sumatra. The reason for such intrigue around the missing ship is that it had tons of treasure on board. Many have tried to find the missing ship and recover the treasure but it has yet to be found. In 1992, a treasure hunter named Bob Marx announced that he discovered the long lost ship. However, this and any other claims of finding the ship have not been substantiated.
