In 1845, Sir John Franklin leaves England with HMS Herebus and HMS Terror in search of the Northwest Passage. On board 134 men and food for 3 years. But the polar cold overwhelmed the crew and trapped in the ice for a year and a half, the latter perishing. If you the disappearance of the first polar expedition is still a mystery, the discovery of the wreck more than 170 years after its disappearance could provide more information.
In the current Canadian Arctic, after being lost for more than 170 years, the wreck of HMS Herebus was discovered in 2014 and the wreck of HMS Terror in 2016. The latter, located near King William Island in western Nunavut, was explored by Parks Canada, a Canadian government agency, in collaboration with the Inuit.
A berth, drawers and a shelf in a cabin on the lower deck of the Terror
The latter revealed extraordinary and unpublished images and videos of the HMS Terror. The superbly preserved wreck - such as its bowsprit mast, wheel steering or one of the lifeboats - can be found in the cold, deep waters of Terror Bay, under layers of protective sediment.
The scientists were also able to study the inside of the boat where the bulkheads are still in place. You can discover objects from the daily life of the Franklin expedition in an incredible state of preservation: crockery, corroded rifles still hanging on the wall, bottles in the reserves... In the officers' cabins are still the chamber pots, writing tablets, bunks and drawers.
Bottles and other artifacts on a shelf in a cabin on the lower deck of the Terror
At the stern of the ship, Captain Crozier's cabin - some of whose windows are still in place - may soon reveal his secrets. Scientists discovered a desk there whose sealed drawers could contain essential information about the shipment. A coffee table and an armchair complete the furniture and are caught in the sediments.
It will take months for the scientists on the expedition to analyze everything and perhaps unravel the mystery of the disappearance of the Franklin expedition.
Plates and other artifacts on shelves near a table where lower-ranking crew members ate their meals
A storage compartment in Captain Crozier's cabin, partially covered with silt and sea anemones. One of the windows in the gallery at the rear of the cabin is clearly visible in the background
