TERROR FOUND Ship found in Arctic was from Franklin expedition

Posted on 09/27/2016 | About Canada

Parks Canada is confirming that a submerged wreck found in the Arctic earlier this month was part of the doomed Franklin expedition. Underwater archeologists say the vessel found off King William Island in Nunavut is the HMS Terror, which went down more than 160 years ago during a search for the Northwest Passage.

Environment Canada says it is working with the government of Nunavut and Inuit organizations on an agreement for joint ownership of the ship's artifacts.
The federal government is currently talking with Great Britain about formally transferring the artifacts to Canada.
Franklin's lost expedition was a British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845 aboard two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. A Royal Navy officer and experienced explorer, Franklin had served on three previous Arctic expeditions, the latter two as commanding officer.
His fourth and last, undertaken when he was 59, was meant to traverse the last un-navigated section of the Northwest Passage. After a few early fatalities, the two ships became icebound in Victoria Strait near King William Island in the Canadian Arctic. The entire expedition, 129 men including Franklin, was lost.
The Terror was found Sept. 3 during a search involving Parks Canada, the Coast Guard, the Arctic Research Foundation and other government and Inuit partners.
The ship was finally found after a tip from an Inuit hunter who recalled seeing a mast sticking through the sea ice seven years ago.