In 1845, explorer Sir John Franklin set sail from England with two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, in search of a Northwest Passage across what is now Canada's Arctic. The ships and crews vanished and dozens of search expeditions set sail to try to find them.
A breakthrough was made in September 2014 when an expedition led by Parks Canada discovered the wreck of HMS Erebus, in the south of King William Island in Nunavut. A second breakthrough happened in September 2016, when HMS Terror was found in Terror Bay, further north. These expeditions brought together the Government of Canada as well as public, private and non-profit organizations. The use of state-of-the-art technology, Inuit knowledge and oral testimony made these historic discoveries possible.
Follow the ongoing work of Parks Canada and our partners as we explore the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.
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Searches and finds
Get the inside scoop on Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team's searches and finds surrounding Sir John Franklin's historical expedition in the heart of the Canadian Arctic.
Photos and videos
Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team and partners have recorded every step of their missions in the Arctic in the search for Sir John Franklin’s expedition.
