Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Tuesday, September 9, that one of two missing British explorer ships had been found. They disappeared in the Arctic in 1846, and it's not clear which ship has been found. This side-scan sonar image of a ship on the sea floor in northern Canada was released by Parks Canada.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Tuesday, September 9, that one of two missing British explorer ships had been found. They disappeared in the Arctic in 1846, and it's not clear which ship has been found. This side-scan sonar image of a ship on the sea floor in northern Canada was released by Parks Canada.
Parks Canada/The Canadian Press/AP
This iron fitting held by John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is a key piece of evidence that led to the discovery of the missing ship.
The mystery of the missing ship —
This iron fitting held by John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is a key piece of evidence that led to the discovery of the missing ship.
Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press/AP
A crew member of the HMCS Kingston loads an remote underwater vehicle, part of the Victoria Strait Expedition, as seen in an August 24 photo.
The mystery of the missing ship —
A crew member of the HMCS Kingston loads an remote underwater vehicle, part of the Victoria Strait Expedition, as seen in an August 24 photo.
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP
Reminders of early, ill-fated expeditions to traverse the Northwest Passage can still be found on the islands of the high Arctic. This replica sign commemorates a man who perished during Franklin's expedition.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Reminders of early, ill-fated expeditions to traverse the Northwest Passage can still be found on the islands of the high Arctic. This replica sign commemorates a man who perished during Franklin's expedition.
Expedition Voyage Consulting/EYOS Expeditions
This painting by W. Turner Smith depicts the struggle endured by sailors who took part in Franklin's mission.
The mystery of the missing ship —
This painting by W. Turner Smith depicts the struggle endured by sailors who took part in Franklin's mission.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Franklin's was not the first attempt to uncover the Northwest Passage. In the 1820s, William Parry and the HMS Fury mounted an unsuccessful bid.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Franklin's was not the first attempt to uncover the Northwest Passage. In the 1820s, William Parry and the HMS Fury mounted an unsuccessful bid.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Following Franklin's doomed expedition, other UK vessels followed later in the 19th century -- including HMS Alert, seen here, which formed half of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBritish_Arctic_Expedition" target="_blank" target="_blank">"British Arctic Expedition"</a> in the mid-1870s.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Following Franklin's doomed expedition, other UK vessels followed later in the 19th century -- including HMS Alert, seen here, which formed half of the "British Arctic Expedition" in the mid-1870s.
London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first leader of a successful expedition through the Northwest Passage, taking three years to complete his voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1903-06.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first leader of a successful expedition through the Northwest Passage, taking three years to complete his voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1903-06.
General Photographic Agency/Getty Images
Amundsen later tried his hand at the Northeast Passage -- now known as the Northern Sea Route -- along the Russian Arctic coast.
The mystery of the missing ship —
Amundsen later tried his hand at the Northeast Passage -- now known as the Northern Sea Route -- along the Russian Arctic coast.
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images