The luxury liner Titanic was making its first voyage in 1912 when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship sank in the early morning of April 15, killing more than 1,500 people. Since then, the Titanic has become a symbol of the great triumphs and tragedies of the 20th century. It has been the subject of a number of stories and films, as well as a musical.

Background

Before airplanes, the trip between Europe and the United States could only be made by boat. State-of-the-art steel steamboats, powered by mechanical engines, set record times in traveling the ocean.

Wealthy people often traveled between Europe and the United States for pleasure. However, many more people made the trip to move to the United States from Europe. Because of this demand, operating ships became a big business. The White Star Line was one of the leading companies in that business. To compete with its rival's ocean liners, White Star planned a fleet of three ships that would be safer, larger, and more luxurious than its competition. The Titanic was one of them.

Built in Ireland, the Titanic was a huge vessel. It was more than 880 feet (270 meters) long. It was also 93 feet (23 meters) wide. Its nine decks rose as tall as an 11-story building. The ship weighed more than 46,000 tons. The ship was also elegant. Its first-class accommodations were as impressive as Europe's best hotels. Because of its design, the Titanic was considered unsinkable.

Departure

A cheering crowd came to see the Titanic set off on its first voyage on April 10, 1912. Sailing from its last European stop in Queenstown, Ireland, the ship was headed for New York City. Among the more than 2,200 people on board were members of well-known U.S., British, and European families. Many of the passengers were moving to the United States to begin a new life there. These passengers were mainly in the ship's steerage, or third-class, sections.

Disaster

On April 14, the Titanic sailed the cold waters of the North Atlantic. During this time, the crew received several warnings of icebergs in the area. At 11:40 PM there was a sudden alarm of an iceberg ahead. The crew slowed and swerved the ship, but it was too late. The iceberg ripped a series of gashes in the side of the ship. Parts of the ship began filling with water. At 2:20 AM on April 15, the Titanic sank.

More than 1,500 people were lost at sea. Some people escaped in lifeboats. However, there was only enough space in the lifeboats for 1,178 people. In addition, some of the lifeboats were lowered into the water half empty. For these reasons, only 705 people survived, mostly women and children.

The wreckage

In 1985 deep-sea explorers found the Titanic on the ocean floor. The wreckage lay at a depth of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) near the Canadian province of Newfoundland. Underwater vessels, some carrying people and some not, have explored the ship several times. Pieces of the wreckage have been brought to the surface.