Naval history is full of fatal accidents and wartime losses. Even knowing that, it's astonishing to think that, according to a United Nations report, there are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Of course, most of them will languish, unexplored and invisible forever, but, fortunately for us, many of them have been cataloged and photographed. These are some of our favorites.


19th century shipwreck in northern Gulf of Mexico.


Photo: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program

The wreckage of the American Star (SS America), Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Photo: Wollex/Wikimedia Commons

The Dimitrios, at Laconia (near Gythio, Greece).


Photo: N1RK4UDSK714/Wikipedia

LST Wreckage, submerged in waters of West Loch near Waipio Peninsula, Pearl City, Honolulu County, Hawaii.


Photo: Library Of Congress

Coastal steamer LAL-KI wrecked on Point Augusta, Alaska, c1917.


Photo: Library Of Congress


Photo: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Ushuaia harbour, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.


Photo: Teo Romera

Off the island of Gramvousa, Crete, Greece.


Photo: Joachim S. Müller

Bay of Praia, Cape Verde, Africa.


Photo: David Gil

One of many shipwrecks around Port of Spain's Harbour, Trinidad And Tobago.


Photo: Mark Morgan

Quail Island, New Zealand.


Photo: Greg Hewgill

The Maheno Shipwreck at Fraser Island, Australia.


Photo: Régis Matthey


Photo: pmm3

Winds Raking the husk of the SS Gairloch, Oakura, Taranaki, New Zealand


Photo: Dave Young


Photo: Al Butler

Remains of the SS Falcon, Langdon Bay, Kent, United Kingdom.


Photo: Squirmelia


Photo: *christopher*

Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras.


Photo: Steve Lyon

Shipwreck on the Mississippi, Lasalle, St. Louis, MO, US.


Photo: Paul Sableman

Western Sahara.


Photo: David Holt


Photo: camera_obscura [busy]

Where ships go to die: Ushuaia, Argentina.


Photo: *christopher*


Photo: Jason Jones

Wrecked ship on the beach, Guam.


Photo: leevin3

The Peter Iredale, Oregon.


Photo: Sarah Lynch


Photo: Stéphane M. Grueso

The Lundoge and many more died at the infamous Shipwreck Beach, Praia Santiago, Angola.


Photo: mp3ief

The Panagia F. at Shipwreck Beach, Praia Santiago, Angola.


Photo: mp3ief

The Mary D. Hume abandoned on the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon.


Photo: Brian Hoffman

Icelandic shipwreck.


Photo: Ron Brinkmann

This list is far from complete. We invite you to add your favorite wrecked ship photo in the discussion section!