10 Mysteries Lurking Underneath the Great Lakes

The depths of the Great Lakes hold many secrets, and some of the discoveries made beneath the surface are truly eerie and unexplained. From ghost ships to underwater volcanoes, the bottom of the Great Lakes is home to a variety of mysterious and unexplained phenomena. Here are the top 10 weirdest things discovered at the bottom of the Great Lakes. Number 1. Old Whitey, the man still trapped in the engine room. On the evening of December 6, 1927, the SS Kamloops, accompanied by the steamer ship Kiddox, was navigating through the treacherous waters of Lake Superior during a violent storm. The Great Lakes are known for their unpredictable weather and heavy storms, which can cause dangerous waves and strong winds. Over the years, it is estimated that over 6,000 ships have met their demise in the treacherous waters. The number of lives lost is estimated at around 30,000, with sailors, passengers, and entire crews disappearing without a trace. Many of these shipwrecks have never been found, and the true number of ships is likely much higher. On that evening, the captain of the Kiddox spotted a dark mass rising out of the waves and quickly changed course, warning the Kamloops, which was obscured by thick fog. The Kiddox safely reached Fort William, but the Kamloops never arrived at its destination. The last sighting of the Kamloops was near the southeast end of Isle Royale, covered in a thick layer of ice. The ship and its crew of 22 men and one woman were lost to the depths of the lake and were never seen alive again. After the SS Kamloops went missing, search parties were immediately sent out to look for the ship and its crew. As the days passed, the search parties faced increasingly harsh winter conditions, making the search efforts more difficult. Despite the challenges, the search parties persisted, but by December 26, 1927, three weeks after the ship's disappearance, the search was halted due to dangerous weather conditions and the lack of any leads. As the 1928 navigation season began in April of that year, a further search was made for wreckage from the Kamloops. Fishermen on the Isle Royale stumbled upon the first signs of the ship's fate. Among the cliffs and coves of the island, the bodies of nine crew members were found, all of whom had taken to a lifeboat in a desperate bid for survival. Some were discovered huddled together near a pitiful fire, while others lay strewn along the shoreline. The survivors had not been spared the island's harsh conditions, and those who had not frozen to death had fallen victim to the wolves that prowled the island. The last clue was discovered in December 1928, when a trapper at the mouth of the Ogawa River made an eerie discovery. Among the debris, he found a bottle. Within it, a note written by Alice Bedridge, a young assistant stewardess who had managed to survive the sinking of the Kamloops. But as she wrote, quote, I am the last one left alive, freezing and starving to death on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. I just want Mom and Dad to know my fate, end quote. Her final message, a chilling reminder of the fate that befell the crew of the ill-fated Kamloops, and was the last piece of evidence found of the wreck of the Kamloops for over half a century. However, in 1977, a full 50 years after the SS Kamloops sunk, it was discovered by a group of sport divers who had been actively looking for the lost ship northwest of Isle Royale near Kamloops Point. The Kamloops appeared to have slid down an underwater incline, coming to rest on starboard side. The divers who discovered the Kamloops were amazed by the ship's state of preservation. It was discovered in near perfect condition. Lake Superior is known for its cold and relatively fresh water, which helps to preserve shipwrecks. The cold water slows down the rate of decay and corrosion, and the lack of salt in the water prevented the ship from rusting as quickly as it would have had it been saltwater. Lake Superior's icy water, which only reaches a few degrees above freezing in its depths, acted as a natural refrigerator. As a result of this, everything in and around the wreckage of Kamloops is remarkably well preserved. The ship is filled with farm machinery that was once destined for the Canadian prairies. Yet, even the food in the cargo hold was in incredible condition. Here are some lifesavers candies found in pristine condition, preserved at the bottom of Lake Superior. It turns out, however, that farm equipment and foodstuffs are not the only thing kept refrigerated in chilly waters of Lake Superior. The ship still contains human remains, including those of a crew member found dispersed in the engine room, commonly referred to as Old Whitey or Grandpa. As divers explored the Kamloops, tales of a ghost named Grandpa began to circulate. Some divers reported seeing a ghostly figure in one of the crew bunks, calmly observing their explorers. Others said he would roam the ship as if it was still afloat, and some claimed that Grandpa could physically interact with them, even reaching out and touching them. The ghost of Grandpa was said to be pale and ghostly, and the idea of him being physically present made the exploration of the sunken ship even more eerie. Explorers began to notice that the remains of Grandpa seemed to follow them as they moved through the ship. Some attributed this to the currents, while others believed that there was something more mysterious about the way Grandpa moved. Despite the eerie nature of these encounters, Grandpa never posed a threat to the divers, and seemed content to simply have some company after being alone for so long. Due to the historical significance of Grandpa's presence, the National Park Service has designated the shipwreck as a cultural treasure, allowing only experienced and respectful divers to visit the site. What caused the SS Kamloops to sink is still a mystery to this day, or for that matter, discovering exactly who Old Whitey was. His identity is still unknown. Could this be the reason why he has stayed around the wreckage of the Kamloops all these years? Could there be a clue about the disaster that he wants us to see? Perhaps he will finally rest when this part of the story is discovered. Until then, he will continue to greet visitors at the bottom of the lake. Number 2. The Michigan Stonehenge Deep beneath the surface of Lake Michigan, a mystery has been hiding for centuries. Recently, a team of divers made a discovery that has sent ripples through the archaeological community. They stumbled upon a Stonehenge unlike any other, hidden beneath the waters of the lake. The stones, each standing over 10 feet tall, are arranged in a perfect circle. They are made of a type of rock that is not native to the area, raising questions about how they got there and could have possibly placed them. The team of divers was able to uncover a small portion of the site, but the true extent of Stonehenge remains a mystery, as it is covered by layers of silt and sediment. The divers reported that the stone showed signs of intricate carvings, but the details were obscured by the murkiness of the water. Experts in archaeology and geology are flocking to the site to try to uncover the secrets that this ancient structure holds. Theories range from stones being placed there by ancient civilizations to the site being a As the team continues to excavate the site, they have uncovered artifacts that have further deepened the mystery. Carbon dating has revealed that the stones are over 5,000 years old, but the artifacts found alongside them date back to a much more recent time period. This has led to speculation that the site was not just a one-time construction, but rather a location that was used and reused throughout history. 3. Old-Growth Waterlogged Wood Worth Their Weight in Gold The waterlogged wood found at the bottom of the Great Lakes is the remains of the vast forests that once covered the region. Many of these trees were harvested for timber during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and during this process, many logs would break free and sink to the bottom of the lakes. Over time, the sunken logs became waterlogged and preserved in the cold, oxygen-poor waters of the lakes. The wood, which has been submerged for centuries, has undergone a unique process known as petrification that turns it into a durable and valuable material. The petrification process occurs when wood is submerged in water for an extended period of time, typically several hundred years. The waterlogged wood begins to lose its natural cellulose. This process not only preserves the wood in an almost perfect state, but also makes it incredibly strong and resistant to rot, decay, and pests. The ancient waterlogged wood is highly sought after by carpenters, builders, and furniture makers for its unique characteristics. It is denser than normal wood and is able to hold intricate carvings and designs. The wood is particularly suited for making musical instruments. The value of this waterlogged wood is not only in its strength and durability, but also in its rarity. The Great Lakes are the only place in the world where this petrification process occurs, and the wood is only found in small pockets at the bottom of the lakes. The process of finding and retrieving the wood is also a difficult and costly endeavor, as it requires specialized diving equipment and expertise. While the discovery of ancient waterlogged wood at the bottom of the Great Lakes may seem like a valuable treasure, there are also ethical considerations that must be taken into account when retrieving the logs from their underwater resting place. One major concern is the impact that retrieving these logs have on the delicate ecosystem of the Great Lakes. The process of dredging the bottom of the lake can disturb and harm plants and animals that call the lake home. Additionally, the removal of the logs can disrupt the natural balance of the lake, which can have long-term effects on the environment. To pull the timber out greatly affects the ecosystem. As a result, both Michigan and Minnesota have regulations and guidelines in place to manage and regulate the removal of submerged logs, including the requirements of a permit and adherence to specific guidelines to minimize the environmental impact. Number 4. The Phoenix Volcano at the bottom of Lake Superior Deep beneath the cold, dark waters of Lake Superior, a mystery lies dormant. A volcano long thought to be extinct slumbers at the bottom of the lake. Though its fiery eruptions have long ceased, the evidence of its past power can still be found in the ancient volcanic rocks that litter the lakebed. The true nature of this underwater beast remains unknown, its secrets locked away in its depths. But some say that one day it may stir from its slumber and unleash its fury once more. The question remains, are we prepared for the awakening of this sleeping giant? Rumors and legends of a volcano at the bottom of Lake Superior have circulated for centuries, but it wasn't until recently that scientific evidence confirmed its existence. Geologists have discovered ancient volcanic rocks on the lakebed, evidence of past eruptions that shaped the very land we stand on today. But what truly lies at the bottom of the lake, no one can say for certain. Some say that the volcano is truly extinct, its power spent long time ago. Others believe that it's still active and that one day it will awaken with a fury that will shake the very foundations of Earth. If you look in the middle, you can see a smooth area where the volcano crater is located. To the right, you can see signs of the hardened lava flows. For generations, northerners have whispered of a legendary bird known as a phoenix, said to reside at the bottom of Lake Superior. It is said that the ancient volcanic rocks that line the lakebed hold the shape of a giant bird, its fiery wings spread wide, as if ready to take flight once more. Some say that the phoenix is a symbol of rebirth, of the power of nature to shape and reshape the world in its own image. But is the phoenix real or just a figment of the imagination? Some claim to have seen the outline of the bird on the rocks, while others say it's just a trick of the light. The truth may never be fully known, but the legend of the phoenix adds an extra layer of mystery to the Great Lakes region. Next time you look out at the vast expanse of water, remember that there may be more to this lake than meets the eye. 5. Barge 129, A Whaleback Ship The whaleback ship was a vessel unlike any other, and has long been shrouded in mystery. Its peculiar shape, resembling that of a whale, is said to have been designed to navigate the treacherous waters of the Great Lakes. Many tales have been told of this ship and its secret it holds. Some say that the whaleback ship was built by a madman, driven by an obsession to create a vessel that could outsmart the mighty waves of Lake Superior. Others claim that the ship was cursed, and that those who sailed on it were doomed to a watery grave. Despite the rumors and legends, the whaleback ship was a revolutionary design, with a unique hull that allowed it to The recent discovery of a long-lost whaleback ship at the bottom of the Great Lakes has sent ripples of excitement throughout the maritime community. Barge 129 was the last of this unique type of vessel to be discovered in the Great Lakes. Researchers with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the 292-foot vessel 35 miles off Vermilion Point and confirmed it to be The discovery of Barge 129, although it met its tragic end at the bottom of the lake, offers a glimpse into the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. The Treaty of Versailles, signed at the end of World War I, imposed severe penalties on Germany. They were forced to disarm and pay large amounts in reparations for damage caused during the war. The treaty also demanded that Germany turn over its entire naval ships to the victorious Allied Powers. Instead of complying with these demands, Germany scuttled the majority of its naval fleet near the British base at Scapa Flow, but the submarines managed to escape this fate. The British, recognizing the advanced technology of the U-boats, offered them to other nations with the stipulation that they must be destroyed when their usefulness came to an end. The United States accepted one, UC-97, and used it to tour the country in order to raise money for war debt and recruit new sailors. The UC-97 made history as it ventured into uncharted waters, navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway and entering the vast expanse of Lake Ontario. This marked the first time a submarine had ever entered the Great Lakes, a monumentous achievement. You can see a photo of the UC-97 in Toronto, Canada as part of its tour on the Great Lakes. As the UC-97 traversed the Great Lakes, it was met with awe and wonder from onlookers who had never seen a submarine in person before. The vessel was a marvel of German engineering, and its presence in the Great Lakes was a testament to the technological advances of the time. However, as the novelty of the ship wore off and the government's war debt was paid off, the UC-97 was deemed no longer useful. It was towed to the middle of Lake Michigan, where it was sunk for target practice as part of the conditions to sink it after its usefulness concluded. In 2008, a team of shipwreck hunter made a groundbreaking discovery at the bottom of Lake Superior. Using state-of-the-art underwater technology, they located a safe deep within the wreckage of a ship that had sunk more than a century ago. The team deployed a remote-control underwater vehicle to carefully open the safe, which had been resting in the depths of the lake untouched for over 100 years. Inside, they found stacks of cash, which had been perfectly preserved in the cool, dark waters. The exact amount of money found in the safe is not publicly known, but it is thought to have been a significant sum. The money was believed to have been a personal savings of a passenger or crew member who was on the ship when it sank. The discovery of this treasure serves as a reminder of the valuable and personal items that are sometimes lost in shipwrecks and other maritime disasters. Number 8. The Canadian Jet, the Avro Arrow. The Avro Arrow was a delta-wing interceptor aircraft that was built by Avro Canada during the 1950s. The aircraft was designed to defend Canada from Soviet bomber attacks and was considered to be one of the most advanced aircraft of its time. The Arrow featured cutting-edge technology such as a radar system, an electric fire control system, and a supersonic speed of Mach 1.98. The project was launched in 1953, and the first flight of the Avro Arrow took place on March 25, 1958. The aircraft received positive reviews from test pilots and was expected to be a major success for Avro Canada. However, despite the aircraft's impressive capabilities, the Canadian government abruptly cancelled the program in 1959 due to a variety of factors, many of which are still debated to this day. The extent of this debate goes beyond this video as it's quite complicated and many people have a lot of opinions on the matter. As for the remaining prototypes of the Avro Arrow, they are order destroyed except for a very few that are preserved in museums. It is said that some of the remaining parts of the Avro Arrow were dumped into the Great Lakes. In 2017, a team of researchers announced that they had discovered a number of these artifacts at the bottom of Lake Ontario, including a full-scale mock-up of the Avro Arrow's nose section and several smaller components. In 2019, a team of researchers discovered a section of the aircraft's tail which is considered to be the holy grail of the Avro Arrow artifacts. The search continues for the remainder of the Avro Arrow at the bottom of Lake Ontario. Number 9. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald was a large freighter that sailed the Great Lakes of North America, carrying iron ore from Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit and Cleveland. She was the largest ship on the North American Great Lakes and sure remains the largest to have ever sunk there. On November 10th, 1975, the Fitzgerald set out on its last voyage, but it would never reach its final destination. Instead, it would sink into the bottom of Lake Superior, taking the lives of all 29 crew members on board. The crew had no time to send out a distress signal and no one knew what happened to the day when a search and rescue mission was launched, but it was too late. The Fitzgerald and its crew were lost and their fate remains a mystery to this day. Many theories have been put forth to explain the Fitzgerald's sinking. Some say that the ship was simply overwhelmed by the storm, while others put the blame on human error causing the ship to sink. One theory is that the ship's hatch covers may have been unsecured, allowing water to flood into the ship's holds. This theory is based on the fact that the Fitzgerald was carrying a full load of iron ore at the time of its sinking and the hatch covers were not designed to be watertight. As the water levels rose, the ship pumps were unable to keep up and the ship eventually capsized and sank. After the sinking, a report by the U.S. Coast Guard put the blame on the crew for the disaster, concluding they failed to fasten the hatches properly. The maritime community has always struggled with the idea that a crew would be that careless when they were well aware of the fierce weather conditions coming on Lake Superior that night. Despite that, the theory persisted that it was the crew's fault immediately after the ship went down. You may be familiar with the 1976 hit song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot that was released just after the sinking. His original version of the song contained the critical line, quote, at 7 p.m. the main hatchway is caved in, end quote. However, with that being said, Lightfoot met two dive detectives in 2010, a father and son diving team from Port Dover, Ontario, who presented evidence that a 50-foot rogue wave was a real cause of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. These rogue waves, a massive wall of water that can reach up to 10 stories high, were previously dismissed as a sailor's myth that only occurred in turbulent oceans. These mega waves are formed when multiple smaller waves converge together to create an unstoppable wall of water, along with possible other factors that caused the ship to split into two and sink to the bottom of Lake Superior. As a result, Lightfoot decided to change the lyrics from, at 7 p.m. the main hatchway is caved in, to, at 7 p.m. it grew dark, it was dim. It wasn't the only thing that Lightfoot got wrong. He also said that the Fitzgerald was going to Cleveland, when in fact it was actually heading for Zug Island near Detroit. He now no longer uses the original lyrics that blamed it on human error The SS Edmund Fitzgerald is a haunting reminder of the crew that lost their lives. The ship's bell was recovered and is now a memorial to the 29 men who died on that fateful night. The Fitzgerald legacy lives on and it is said that the ship's ghost still sails the lake. The last line of Lightfoot's song pays homage to those who, similar to Edmund Fitzgerald's crew, have gone missing without a trace. Superior, they said, never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early. Number 10. A strange anomaly found on the bottom of Lake Superior near Isle Royale. Rising from the dark and mysterious depths of Lake Superior lies an island of immense spiritual and mineral significance. The local indigenous people refer to it as Minong, a place of untold riches, including vast deposits of pure copper. The island, known as Isle Royale, is dotted with thousands of ancient mines and estimates suggest that over half a billion pounds of copper were Off the coast of Isle Royale, an unusual underwater feature has been discovered. Researchers, while investigating the history of the mineral range, stumbled upon a strange shape lurking beneath the surface. Despite attempts to explain the figure, no conclusive answers have been found and there is little information available online. Satellite imagery depicts the shape as resembling a giant ear. The anomaly measures three miles wide from end to end and two miles from north to south. At the upper level, there appears to be a quarter mile wide entrance resembling a driveway. The exact nature of this underwater formation remains a mystery, with speculation that either no one knows or no one is willing to disclose the information. The structure's unusual feature is the uniformity in height and width of the walls, estimated to be around 250 feet based on the bathymetric charts. Some scientists have suggested the structure may have been caused by a comet or meteor impact that occurred approximately 12,800 years ago during a period of sudden cooling known as the Younger Dryas. The theory is supported by scientific evidence, but the missing piece is an impact crater. The cosmic object may have exploded over the ice sheet, leaving no evidence. The possibility of the scenario creating this anomalous feature in question is being considered. Other theories suggested something to do with the volcanic activity in the area. This could be a possible explanation as the area is home to some of the purest and largest copper and iron deposits in the world. The area is also directly on the Other theories include an ancient megamelt created by the First Nations people, an underwater government or even alien base, all the way to some even believing it might be the lost city of Atlantis due to rich mineral deposits that match Plato's historical description of the lost city of Atlantis. There must be more possibilities, but these are the ones most likely so far. Hopes are that one day we'll be able to reveal the true nature of the strange anomaly on the bottom of Lake Superior.