page_title: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary / History
caption_attribution_description: Map of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
context_page_description: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve is a United States National Marine Sanctuary on Lake Huron's Thunder Bay, within the northeastern region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It protects an estimated 116 historically significant shipwrecks ranging from nineteenth-century wooden side-wheelers to twentieth-century steel-hulled steamers. There are a great many wrecks in the sanctuary, and their preservation and protection is a concern for national policymakers. The landward boundary of the sanctuary extends from the western boundary of Presque Isle County to the southern boundary of Alcona County. The sanctuary extends east from the lakeshore to the international border. Alpena is the largest city in the area.
context_section_description: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in 2000. It became the thirteenth overall and first on the Great Lakes. Original boundaries followed that of Alpena County to 83 degrees west longitude totaling 448 square miles (1,160 km²). In 2014 it was expanded to 4,300 square miles (11,000 km²).  The marine sanctuary contains many shipwrecks, such as the hull of package freighter SS Pewabic.
caption: Map of Thunder Bay sanctuary showing original boundaries
exif: {}