Underwater Drones Explore The Cannibalistic H.M.S. Terror
Wikimedia CommonsThe H.M.S. Terror got lodged in the Arctic ice, forcing its crew to resort to cannibalism.
In August, for the first time since its famed, mysterious sinking, the H.M.S. Terror was investigated by underwater drones.
In 1845, Sir John Franklin helmed two Arctic expeditions to locate the Northwest Passage — one aboard the Terror and the other on the Erebus. Both of them suffered equally horrifying fates as their crews succumbed to lead poisoning and ultimately cannibalized each other before freezing to death.
The tale of the expeditions is legendary, but what exactly forced both ships to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean remains a mystery. Now, thanks to cutting-edge technology, we’re beginning to get a clearer picture.
Though the Terror was discovered in 2016, Parks Canada waited until this year to launch an underwater investigation. Using drones and divers, Parks Canada conducted seven dives and uncovered the amazingly well-preserved shipwreck. Along with bottles still lining the shelves of the mess hall, the divers discovered plates, journals, and personal effects perfectly preserved in the icy waters.
While the circumstances of the sinking may have been a mystery for the last 175 years, the Parks Canada team is certain that this discovery and these new dives will help them discover what really happened to that ill-fated crew all those years ago.
