James P. Barry Bücher

The Great Lakes are notorious for their treacherous waters, where violent storms and unpredictable currents have led to the capsizing of large vessels and the destruction of countless ships. Over the past 150 years, an estimated 10,000 ships have succumbed to the fury of these lakes, a figure comparable to the maritime disasters around the British Isles over the last 300 years. Despite the compelling nature of this topic, there has been a lack of informative literature addressing it until now. This book fills that gap by chronicling the history of shipwrecks, starting with the Frontenac, one of the first vessels built by the French, which was wrecked in 1679. Through dramatic photographs and vivid descriptions, the text illustrates the severity of the weather and the tragic events surrounding these wrecks. It details Victorian and Edwardian shipwrecks on the Canadian shore and showcases images of American wrecks from 1881 to 1910, highlighting the fragility of those vessels. Even ships from the 1920s and 1930s were not safe, as recent disasters and daring rescue attempts are depicted. The poignant account of the Edmund Fitzgerald's tragic loss serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing dangers present in these waters.