National Geographic has published breathtaking photographs and video of the Swedish warship Mars, which exploded and sank in the first battle of Öland in 1564. Because the ship sank in the dark, cold waters of the Baltic Sea, where the water is brackish and contains relatively little oxygen near the bottom, the ship is amazingly well preserved.
The Mars was believed to be one of the largest ships of her day. When the ship sank she carried a fortune in silver coins, as well as 800 to 900 sailors, all of which ended at the bottom. The wreck of the Mars has long been sought after. There is a legend that a specter rose from the inferno when Mars sank, to guard the ship against ever being discovered. After 450 years, perhaps the legendary specter has retired. At least one silver coin has been recovered. Also numerous bones have been found at the wreck site from the ill-fated sailors and soldiers who went down with the ship. There is video of the shipwreck after the page break.
Cursed Warship Revealed With Treasure Onboard
Cursed Shipwreck Yields Treasure and Human Remains
Thanks to Phil Leon for contributing to this post.
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Exploded?
I must have skipped over that part.
But I did wonder about all the wood on the ocean floor?
If she exploded, wouldn’t all the wood planks float away?
The Mars Looks Great for 450 years!
Ironically, we need Oxygen to live.
On Steam boilers, the Deaerator, Open Feed water heater removes Dissolved Oxygen from the Boiler’s Feed Water System. The Magna Carter, Declaration of Independence, and anything else worth saving are stored in Oxygen free chambers.
Oxygen can be a real Killer too!