• Monday-What'sUP June 21 - 10:52 pm

Kevin Henriksen made his annual trip to Isle Royale and brought back some interesting photos to share with us today. He normally visits the Rock Harbor end of the island, but this year spent his time over at Windigo, where he did some hiking and plenty of kayaking. One of his kayaking adventures took him to Washington Harbor and the sight of the SS America shipwreck, which is marked by a white and orange shipwreck buoy. That's so that boaters will know to avoid that area and divers will know that is where they want to go to explore the remains of the ship underwater. Kevin stayed above Lake Superior, but snapped photos while he floated over the wreck. One note of interest he mentioned as a highlight, was being able to reach out and touch the bow of the ship, as it's only about 14 inches below the surface of the water (photo #3). Kevin has more photos than could be displayed here today, so you can click on the following link for a slideshow of his exploration that day: America slideshow

The last photo was taken at the shipwreck display at the Windigo Ranger Station and shows the America in her better days. For more information about this shipwreck and the preservation of it, click on over to: S.S. America Shipwreck. You'll find some underwater photos of the ship there, too. Thanks for taking us along on your adventure, Kevin!

Facinating pictures with a twist of spookiness to them!

UP version of the Titanic with a happier ending, everyone made it alive.

Very cool! Stuff like this is always very interesting to me. Great photos!

Excellent pics. Isle Royale has many shipwrecks around its shores and reefs and is certainly a paradise for divers. Another big plus for divers is the clarity of the water in the vicinity of Isle Royale.

I have been all over the Lake Superior region, but one place I still haven't gone to is Isle Royale...... yes, believe or not I have never been out there. One of these years I'm going to have to change that!!

Next month the Dr. and I are taking a ferry ride but not to IR; we're taking the 16 hour trip by ferry to Newfoundland for a few days, then another short hop across to Labrador. If all goes well, we might even take the long way back to Purgetory and stop in the Keweenaw for a couple days.....

Mary you always have such great photos. Love learning from so many of them! Thanks. And Capt. Paul....I love ferry rides! My favorite was through the Aran Islands in Ireland. So interesting. Need to see it to believe some of the stuff they did. Also had interesting one from L.P. Mi. across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wis.on rough seas! The cruise around Puget Sound Wa. was neat in a different way. Love all that travel by water!

Thanks 4 sharing. Shipwrecks are a part of history.

Capt Paul:
Do go from Newfoundland to Labrador, drive north to Cartwright and then take the overnite ferry to Goose Bay/Happy Valley...and then drive the 300 miles of gravel (Labrador 500) to Labrador City. If you like remote wilderness, you'll really like Labrador!

Capt. Paul,

Our family made the trip that you are planning to make. It was one
of the most memorable trips we ever made. Whales were
swimming alongside our ferry as we traveled to Labrador. The long
ferry ride from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland was entertaining what
with singing (and drinking) Newfoundlanders returning home from
"away." And then there were the tough looking (until they became
seasick) bikers who bummed Gravol off of me. Hang on while
you're up on deck--those winds can really blow. Have fun!!

There was one death, a dog was tied to the stern when it went down. Also there was a diver that died in the Stern too quite a few years back. He went in the stern below the deck and got tangled in some wires, so it is said. It is a very tight ship to dive if you go inside some of the hallways. THe shipwreck diving on the Island is the best in Superior, in my opinion. Many of the ships are mostly intact with great visibility. Great pictures!!!!

Interesting pictures thanks for sharing them. Kevin did your family live near the Paradise Bar? I would love to go to Isle Royal someday. Are there certain colors or types of buoys that indicate there is a hazard underwater? The only buoys I am familiar with are the "no wake" buoys that tell you to slow down near docks.