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Wreckage of the RMS Titanic's bow as seen from the Russian submersible MIR I. The shipwreck had been underwater for just under 95 years at the time of the photo, and has decayed considerably. It was discovered in 1985 at a depth of 12,500 feet (3800 m), 13 nautical miles (24 km) from where the Titanic was originally thought to rest. The bow section, which had split from the stern, had embedded itself more than 60 feet (18 m) into the silt on the ocean floor and was mostly intact.

Visits by tourists in submersibles and the recovery of artifacts are hastening the decay of the wreck. It is estimated that the hull and structure of the ship may collapse to the ocean floor within the next 50 years.

Photo credit: NOAA and the Russian Academy of Sciences
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