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An Underwater Robot Explores the Hidden 'Shipwreck City' Beneath the Surface of This Popular Urban Lake in the Pacific Northwest
Key takeaways
- A team is exploring shipwrecks in Lake Union, including this steel workboat submerged 30 feet deep.
- The lakebed is littered with shipwrecks, from barges and sailboats to a World War II-era minesweeper.
- We got new things coming up all over the place, but let’s not forget what’s in our own backyard underwater in a lake that we use every day.”
A team is exploring shipwrecks in Lake Union, including this steel workboat submerged 30 feet deep. Shipwreck City Seattle’s Lake Union is typically abuzz with activity, from the gentle splash of kayak paddles to the roar of seaplanes skimming across the water. It’s one of the city’s most popular sites, yet most visitors don’t realize a hidden world is lurking beneath the surface.
The lakebed is littered with shipwrecks, from barges and sailboats to a World War II-era minesweeper. Researchers have dubbed it “Shipwreck City,” and they’re using high-tech gear to document and share this long-overlooked facet of Seattle’s maritime history.
The initiative is being led by Phil Parisi, a robotics researcher and self-described “Seattle rookie.” He’s working with Libbie Barnes, the associate curator of exhibits and engagement at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry, as well as George Spano, a longtime boat captain, fisherman and ocean conservationist.