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Stellwagen Bank

The shallow waters of the Stellwagen Bank create treacherous conditions that change unexpectedly and have led to numerous shipwrecks that dot the seafloor.

ROV inspects a shipwreck in the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary
Marine Imaging Technologies' ROV inspects a shipwreck in the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. (Photo by Marine Imaging Technologies, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

The shallow waters of Stellwagen Bank create treacherous conditions that change unexpectedly and have led to numerous shipwrecks that dot the seafloor. One of these is the wreck of the steamship Portland, sometimes known as the “Titanic of New England,” which sank in an infamous gale of November 1898 named after the ship.

Expedition

Expedition to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank, an underwater plateau off Boston, is a biological hotspot and key fishing ground. It's a prime whale-watching spot and home to shipwrecks like the Portland, a maritime heritage symbol.

humpback whale

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