Great Lakes Sanctuary Expands 10-Fold

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in northern Michigan will be expand its size nearly 10-fold in order to boost the preservation of scores of sunken ships that lurk below Lake Huron.

After receiving federal approval Friday, the country's only freshwater preserve, which holds the part of Lake Huron formerly known as "Shipwreck Alley," will grow from 450 square miles to 4,300 square miles, the Lansing State Journal reported.

The new boundaries will include waters off Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle in the northeastern Lower Peninsula and to the maritime border with Canada.

"The expansion of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary represents an important milestone for the sanctuary and the region," Jeff Gray, sanctuary superintendent, said in a statement. "We welcome the opportunity to expand our research and education programs to provide increased protection for the Great Lakes and their rich history. We are also excited to work with our community partners to further enhance sustainable tourism in the region."

Efforts to expand the sanctuary, which was first created in 2000, will double the numbers of estimated shipwrecks to roughly 200 as well as foster further exploration for more ships in the area.

While research on Thunder Bay focuses on these sunken vessels, the systematic mapping of the lake bottom used to identify the wrecks has also helped provide scientific data, such as the location of fish-spawning areas.

"It's been a long, long effort," Gray told the Lansing State Journal. "It's a pretty monumental thing. ... In a small way we raise the Great Lakes into this national dialogue."

The expansion comes after several years of research from the NOAA and other scientific groups.

Thunder Bay was called Shipwreck Alley in the 19th century, when it was part of a major shipping route that saw wrecks including the 1913 sinking of a coal carrier named the Isaac M. Scott.