Naval history is full of fatal accidents and wartime losses. Even knowing that, it’s astonishing to think that, according to a United Nations report, there are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Of course, most of them will languish, unexplored and invisible forever, but, fortunately for us, many of them have been cataloged and photographed. These are some of our favorites.
19th century shipwreck in northern Gulf of Mexico.
Photo: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program
The wreckage of the American Star (SS America), Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.
Photo: Wollex/Wikimedia Commons
The Dimitrios, at Laconia (near Gythio, Greece).
Photo: N1RK4UDSK714/Wikipedia
LST Wreckage, submerged in waters of West Loch near Waipio Peninsula, Pearl City, Honolulu County, Hawaii.
Photo: Library Of Congress
Coastal steamer LAL-KI wrecked on Point Augusta, Alaska, c1917.
Photo: Library Of Congress
The infamous Costa Concordia lies stricken off the shore of the island of Giglio, Italy.
Photo: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
Ushuaia harbour, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Photo: Teo Romera
Off the island of Gramvousa, Crete, Greece.
Photo: Joachim S. Müller
Bay of Praia, Cape Verde, Africa.
Photo: David Gil
One of many shipwrecks around Port of Spain’s Harbour, Trinidad And Tobago.
Photo: Mark Morgan
Quail Island, New Zealand.
Photo: Greg Hewgill
The Maheno Shipwreck at Fraser Island, Australia.
Photo: Régis Matthey
Hawaii.
Photo: pmm3
Winds Raking the husk of the SS Gairloch, Oakura, Taranaki, New Zealand
Photo: Dave Young
Panama.
Photo: Al Butler
Remains of the SS Falcon, Langdon Bay, Kent, United Kingdom.
Photo: Squirmelia
Olivia. Ushuaia, Argentina.
Photo: *christopher*
Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras.
Photo: Steve Lyon
Shipwreck on the Mississippi, Lasalle, St. Louis, MO, US.
Photo: Paul Sableman
Western Sahara.
Photo: David Holt
Tarfaya, Morocco.
Photo: camera_obscura [busy]
Where ships go to die: Ushuaia, Argentina.
Photo: *christopher*
Ushuaia, Argentina.
Photo: Jason Jones
Wrecked ship on the beach, Guam.
Photo: leevin3
The Peter Iredale, Oregon.
Photo: Sarah Lynch
Jafrabad, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Photo: Stéphane M. Grueso
The Lundoge and many more died at the infamous Shipwreck Beach, Praia Santiago, Angola.
Photo: mp3ief
The Panagia F. at Shipwreck Beach, Praia Santiago, Angola.
Photo: mp3ief
The Mary D. Hume abandoned on the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon.
Photo: Brian Hoffman
Icelandic shipwreck.
Photo: Ron Brinkmann
This list is far from complete. We invite you to add your favorite wrecked ship photo in the discussion section!
