The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve lies at the northern tip of Lakes Michigan and Huron and tries to preserve Michigan’s shipwrecks for later generations. Over the years, a large number of ships have submerged in the Straits, many of them have yet to be discovered. One of the shipwrecks that has been found is the wooden steamer Fred McBrier.
Built in W. Bay City of Michigan in 1881, the Fred McBrier was nine years old when she sank in October 1890. Loaded with iron ore, while towing two schooner barges, she was moving cautiously in conditions of poor visibility. The darkness and the misinterpreted fog horn signals, that the Fred McBrier exchanged with the oncoming schooner barge Progress led to their collision.
The 161 ft/49 m long, wooden steamer Fred McBrier is now located upright in 104 ft/32 m depth of water, 9 mi/14.48 km west of the bridge, in Lake Michigan. Moored at her upright engine (which is at 85 ft/26 m), the Fred McBrier is slowly dissolving. Her bow has separated, but her stern is mostly intact. You will be able to see much of her equipment, including the engines and windlass. Penetration is possible.
Kailua Kona is located in the North Kona District, Hawaii. It is a lively seaside town with sunny tropical weather all year long and lies at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano.
Ponta Do Ouro is the southern most village in Mozambique and is a popular holiday destination. It lies on the Mozambique Channel, southern of Maputo and just northern of the border with South Africa. Ponta Do Ouro boasts pristine beaches and is well known for its long stretches of white beaches. There are no tarred roads, therefore it is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles.
Having earned itself the name "Maldives" of Kenya, Galu beach is situated at 5 km/3 mi away from Diani Beach. It is calmer than the busy Diani Beach and boasts an indigenous flora. The white sandy beach incorporated with the clear turquoise waters offers a perfect choice for an amazing beach holiday.
Sunshine Coast is situated between Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Beset with countless little villages with access to the beach, it's a holiday maker's dream destination. All these little villages offer access to the beach, lagoons and trails to explore. The climate here is sub-tropical with temperature in winters at 21°C/69.80°F and summers at 30°C/86°F.
The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory, situated northwest of Jamaica and south of Cuba, in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory consists of three islands, the Grand Cayman, the Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. George Town is the capital, located on Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands. All of the islands enjoy a tropical marine climate, with hot summers and dry, cool winters.
County Cork is situated in the South-West Region of Ireland and is the largest of all Irish counties. The climate here, like the rest of Ireland, is classified as a maritime climate, usually with cool summers, mild winters and abundant rainfall. Cork enchants visitors with its beautiful landscapes, historic towns and magnificent coastline. In addition, it provides a number of sporting and leisure activities to perform and remember forever.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes and the only one placed entirely within the United States. It has the same surface elevation as Lake Huron and it is the second largest of Great Lakes. The Straits of Mackinac join Lake Michigan with Lake Huron, sometimes called the Michigan-Huron. The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve holds numerous shipwrecks, one of them being the Maitland.
Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, St. Ignace is the connecting node between the Upper and Lower Peninsula at the northern end of the Mackinac Bridge. Saint Ignace is the second-oldest city founded by Europeans in Michigan and the third oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S. It is inhabited by Native Americans, Europeans and is rich in history. With its pristine beaches, water filled activities, entertainment, history and annual events, St. Ignace is a great vacation destination for all.
Chicago is the seat of Cook County, Illinois, USA. It is the third most populous city in the US and the most populous city in both the American Midwest and Illinois. Nicknamed as The Second City or Windy City, Chicago is situated on the southeastern shores of Lake Michigan, in the northeastern Illinois.
Traverse City is the county seat of Grand Traverse County and is located at the south end of Grand Traverse Bay, which is actually a 32 mi / 51 km long, 10 mi / 16 km wide and up to 620 ft / 190 m deep in spots bay of Lake Michigan. Combining varied natural attractions for adventure and/or relaxation, Traverse City is a four-season travel destination.
Lake Huron is the second-largest of the Great Lakes and the third largest fresh water lake on Earth, with more than a thousand wrecks being recorded. At least eleven of these shipwrecks are contained in the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. 3 mi/4.8 km east of Mackinac Bridge lies what's left of the Cedarville. Being in a very good condition, because of its close proximity to the surface, the shipwreck has much to explore.
Lake Huron is the third largest freshwater lake on Earth. Its lake shore is 3827 mi/ 6159 km long and the average depth is 195 ft/ 59.4 m. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan have the same surface elevation and are technically a single lake. The Straits of Mackinac connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Many ships have sunk in the Straits, due to storms over the past years, some of them yet to be found. The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve tries to preserve Michigan’s shipwrecks. The preserve contains more than thirteen recognized shipwrecks. One of them is the Martin Stalker.
Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes of North America by volume and the third largest by surface area, is actually the only one located entirely within the United States. Over the years, a large number of ships have sunk in the Straits of Mackinac, due to sudden and harsh storms. The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve accommodates more than thirteen shipwrecks. One of them is the Minneapolis wreck.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes, the only one placed entirely within the United States and the second largest Great Lake by volume. It has the same surface elevation as Lake Huron, making the two technically a single lake. The Straits of Mackinac connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Over the years, many ships have sunk in the Straits. One of the shipwrecks lying in the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserves is St. Andrew.
