For many hundreds of years, the shallow reefs off the Florida Keys have claimed scores of seagoing ships. Today, countless thousands of avid snorkelers, exploring scuba divers and curious tourists collect here to encounter the appeal of the Florida Keys shipwrecks. The favorite location for observing wrecks is The Florida National Marine Sanctuary.
The sanctuary has partitioned off a lengthy section of the area known as the Shipwreck Trail that stretches along the vast coral reefs. The boats and ships are a haunting testament to just how difficult it was to sail the rough and shallow waters that lie off the coast. In addition, there are numerous vessels that have been intentionally sunk to create new habitats for local sea life.
The oldest of shipwrecks on the path will be the San Pedro. This very unique ship was included in the Spanish Fleet until it finally realized its doom while transporting loot in 1733. With consideration of its age, it's been very well preserved. She met her end in a powerful hurricane during a trek from Cuba to Spain. She was left undiscovered for over 200 years until the 1960s and almost all the valuable items aboard were assumed to be taken out at that time.
The newest wreck is the USS Spiegel Grove. This ship, once a part of the United States naval fleet, is more than 500 feet long. This was intentionally sunk following retirement for the objective of forming a man-made reef. It's unquestionably the biggest wreck site found in the sanctuary. Actually, its the largest boat worldwide ever purposely sunk for this particular purpose.
One popular site is the resting place of a steamship that lacked a positive identification for over 100 years. It is now known to be the Hannah M. Bell, a cargo ship that carried sugar, cotton and coal. Historians have now verified that it went aground in 1911 on its way to Mexico. Heavy storms and relentless waves broke the boat apart and sent the boat to the bottom in the gulf near Elbow Reef.
One renown wreck, an American destroyer commonly called the Amesbury, came across its final fate because of a towing accident. This cruiser provided critical support throughout the 1940s in Korea, France and China. While getting towed in 1970 it split away from the pulling vehicle and sank in twenty five foot waters. It can be readily viewed by snorkeling, from a boat deck or by scuba diving.
A schooner branded the City of Washington was constructed during 1877 and sank near Elbow Reef in 1917. This boat holds a tremendous amount of historical importance associated to the Spanish-American War. It's recognized to have saved many castaway crewmen in Cuba. It was also placed into service throughout the war as a crucial troop transfer vehicle.
It is estimated that close to 100,000 people visit Florida Keys shipwrecks each year. As a result, it's relatively easy to find an appropriate professional guide, diving tour or diving excursion to access these magnificent sites. In any event, visitors will find an abundance of opportunities to experience this unique and interesting historical area.
The sanctuary has partitioned off a lengthy section of the area known as the Shipwreck Trail that stretches along the vast coral reefs. The boats and ships are a haunting testament to just how difficult it was to sail the rough and shallow waters that lie off the coast. In addition, there are numerous vessels that have been intentionally sunk to create new habitats for local sea life.
The oldest of shipwrecks on the path will be the San Pedro. This very unique ship was included in the Spanish Fleet until it finally realized its doom while transporting loot in 1733. With consideration of its age, it's been very well preserved. She met her end in a powerful hurricane during a trek from Cuba to Spain. She was left undiscovered for over 200 years until the 1960s and almost all the valuable items aboard were assumed to be taken out at that time.
The newest wreck is the USS Spiegel Grove. This ship, once a part of the United States naval fleet, is more than 500 feet long. This was intentionally sunk following retirement for the objective of forming a man-made reef. It's unquestionably the biggest wreck site found in the sanctuary. Actually, its the largest boat worldwide ever purposely sunk for this particular purpose.
One popular site is the resting place of a steamship that lacked a positive identification for over 100 years. It is now known to be the Hannah M. Bell, a cargo ship that carried sugar, cotton and coal. Historians have now verified that it went aground in 1911 on its way to Mexico. Heavy storms and relentless waves broke the boat apart and sent the boat to the bottom in the gulf near Elbow Reef.
One renown wreck, an American destroyer commonly called the Amesbury, came across its final fate because of a towing accident. This cruiser provided critical support throughout the 1940s in Korea, France and China. While getting towed in 1970 it split away from the pulling vehicle and sank in twenty five foot waters. It can be readily viewed by snorkeling, from a boat deck or by scuba diving.
A schooner branded the City of Washington was constructed during 1877 and sank near Elbow Reef in 1917. This boat holds a tremendous amount of historical importance associated to the Spanish-American War. It's recognized to have saved many castaway crewmen in Cuba. It was also placed into service throughout the war as a crucial troop transfer vehicle.
It is estimated that close to 100,000 people visit Florida Keys shipwrecks each year. As a result, it's relatively easy to find an appropriate professional guide, diving tour or diving excursion to access these magnificent sites. In any event, visitors will find an abundance of opportunities to experience this unique and interesting historical area.
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