CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 2:08PM EDT
Last Updated Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 2:14PM EDT
An archeological expedition announced by the federal government aims to find two of Canada’s national historic sites that are yet to be discovered.
The HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror are the two lost ships of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, and they are believed to be resting somewhere in Canada’s vast Northern terrain.
During his annual visit to Canada’s North on Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the hunt for the two ships will resume in a four to six week initiative spearheaded by Parks Canada.
It will be the fourth archeological search for the British ships. The last search took place in 2011.
“It is truly exciting to be launching this new initiative to continue searching for the lost vessels of the Franklin expedition,” Harper said in a statement. “It is also a privilege to meet with members representing the extraordinary array of Canadian partners and researchers who hope to solve the mystery of the ill-fated HMS Erebus and HMS Terror and unlock the rich history of Canada’s Northwest Passage – a history that unites us all as Canadians.”
Parks Canada, along with a number of private and public partners will look for the two vessels in the Victoria Strait/Alexandra Strait region and near O’Reilly Island in Canada’s North.
The search will also allow researchers to collect scientific data to produce Arctic navigational charts and topographical maps.
According to Parks Canada, the discovery of the wrecks, or their contents, will offer unprecedented information on the search for the Northwest Passage, which was sought by explorers for centuries as a possible trade route.
The organization said the ships have historical and cultural significance as the stories of their voyages were passed down in indigenous communities.
“The expedition team and Inuit have worked closely together in conducting research and planning for this search as it is believed that Inuit oral history and research could hold the key to the ultimate discovery of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror,” Parks Canada said of the 2011 search.
