6 Strangest Things Found At The Bottom Of The Great Lakes (2024)

Carving a path through North America lies a freshwater colossus: the Great Lakes. This interconnected system, comprised of Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, boasts a combined surface area that dwarfs the entire United Kingdom.

Holding a staggering 20 percent of the world's freshwater by volume, these giants are more than just vast stretches of water; they're a lifeblood for surrounding ecosystems and a vital historical corridor. Many people visit the beautiful towns on the Great Lakes, as well as the numerous quirky Great Lakes roadside attractions, but there’s more to this area than meets the eye. The depths of the Great Lakes hold more than just fish and shipwrecks.

These freshwater seas conceal a captivating collection of the strange and mysterious. From the chilling whispers of fighter planes to the unearthed bones of prehistoric giants, the Great Lakes possess a hidden world waiting to be explored. Prepare to delve into the captivating mysteries that lie beneath the surface of these freshwater titans; here are some of the weirdest things found in the Great Lakes.

6 Famous Shipwrecks

The ghost ships of the Great Lakes

SS Edmund Fitzgerald on a body of water

Planning scenic trips to the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Superior? Don’t forget to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to learn more about Edmund Fitzgerald. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, launched in 1958, reigned as the "Queen of the Lakes" until a fateful storm on November 10th, 1975.

This behemoth freighter, carrying a load of iron ore, vanished on Lake Superior with all 29 crew members on board. The cause of the sinking remains a chilling mystery, debated to this day. There's a video by CaljuCotcas on YouTube that shows how the ship sank into the lake.

5 Mysterious Plane Crashes

Sunken planes in the Great Lakes

During the Second World War, the U.S. Navy converted passenger ships into makeshift aircraft carriers to train pilots for carrier landings and takeoffs. These demanding maneuvers and the unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes resulted in numerous crashes.

Many of these submerged planes remain largely intact, offering a window into this unique chapter of aviation history. One of the famous fighter planes that was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan is the FM-2 Wildcat 57039.

A frigid Michigan winter wasn't enough to stop a World War II training exercise. On December 28th, 1944, an FM-2 Wildcat fighter (Bureau No. 57039) took a rough tumble during takeoff from the USS Sable - a converted aircraft carrier used for pilot training on the Great Lakes.

The plane, piloted by Ensign William E. Forbes, skidded off the deck and was sliced in half by the ship's paddlewheel. It sank 200 feet to the bottom of the lake, where it remained hidden for nearly 70 years.

Finally, in 2012, the Wildcat was recovered and brought to the Air Zoo, a renowned aircraft restoration facility, for a second chance at taking flight - this time, through meticulous restoration efforts.

4 A Corpse From The USS Kamloops

Old Whitey remains there to this day

USS Kamloops in 1925

The depths of the Great Lakes hold a chilling secret: a constant temperature of around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This, combined with the water's clear and oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) nature, creates an exceptional environment for preservation.

Even objects submerged for decades remain remarkably intact. Take the USS Kamloops, a cargo vessel that vanished in Lake Superior in 1927, for example. It remained undiscovered for five decades before divers were astonished to find the ship remarkably well-preserved. This exceptional preservation extends to human remains.

The cold temperatures trigger a natural process that transforms bodies into a white, waxy state. This phenomenon is behind the nickname "Whitey" given to a crew member discovered in the engine room. He rests there, a silent testament to the power of the Great Lakes' cold embrace. There's a video by Doug Bell on YouTube exploring the USS Kamloops.

3 A Truck & A Two-Story Vacation House

The first and the last of the four houses to be moved

Icy shores of Lake Superior

In March 1977, a moving company in Minnesota attempted to move a two-story house across frozen Lake Superior to Madeline Island, four miles away. Despite initial confidence and safety measures, disaster struck three miles into the trek. Tragically, the ice gave way beneath the weight of the truck and trailer, sending the house tumbling precariously into the icy water.

Initial estimates suggested the ice was at least 10 inches thick, enough for a safe crossing. However, later measurements revealed a thinner spot where the ice broke, around 16 inches. Though everyone escaped safely, it took about a month for the house to disappear completely into the lake.

Once the ice thawed, a salvage operation was launched in May 1977. The truck, retrieved first, was thankfully repaired and returned to service. The house, however, wasn't as fortunate. Salvage efforts yielded only unusable pieces.

2 A Giant Marble Crucifix

An 11-foot tall structure that remains at the bottom of the Great Lakes

Lake Michigan has a lot of history beneath its surface, but it also happens to be widely considered the most dangerous lake in the country, making exploration a challenge.

History isn't the only peculiarity below the water, though; there's a giant white marble crucifix near Petoskey. Divers and visitors have flocked to see it since it was submerged in 1962. Although today, the 11-foot tall crucifix honors those lost at sea, it wasn’t originally made for that purpose.

Crafted in Italy in the late 1950s, it was meant to be a gravestone for a young boy but arrived damaged. After being sold, the diving club placed it underwater as a memorial for a diver who died in Torch Lake. The crucifix's placement was a big event, drawing hundreds and even an invitation to actor Lloyd Bridges, who politely declined.

Interestingly, the crucifix was briefly removed from the water in the 1980s for repairs and a new base. This led to a winter viewing tradition, where a hole is cut in the ice, and lights illuminate the crucifix for visitors. It's a free event held when the ice is safe, typically in late February or March.

1 Hunting Structures Or "Miniature Stonehenge"

A view of a world lost to time

Lake Michigan in the day time

A fascinating discovery beneath Lake Michigan hints at an ancient past. Scientists believe the lake levels were much lower 10,500 years ago, exposing land where indigenous people thrived for 3,500 years.

Rising water levels around 5,000 years ago submerged their settlements, leaving behind an underwater anomaly nicknamed a "miniature Stonehenge" - though lacking the classic henge structure.

One intriguing find is a rock formation potentially depicting a mastodon, an animal native to the area and likely hunted by these early inhabitants. Discovered in 2007 with sonar equipment meant for shipwrecks, this formation, along with a similar structure in Lake Huron, could be part of an extensive prehistoric hunting system - a drive line used to herd caribou and other prey towards waiting hunters.

The Great Lakes, vast and majestic, hold more than just water. Beneath the surface lies a captivating world – a chilling graveyard of shipwrecks, a window into aviation history, and a glimpse into an ancient past.

From the perfectly preserved "Whitey" to the mysterious "miniature Stonehenge," the Great Lakes offer a compelling mix of history, mystery, and a reminder of the power of nature.