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The Guardian Environment

‘The Antarctic is the last frontier’: the quest to save Shackleton’s Endurance

Conservationists are working to establish the first underwater protected area in the Antarctic to preserve the wreck of Shackleton’s Endurance, which has remained largely intact for over a century due to the region’s cold, harsh conditions. Rising ocean temperatures and the potential for new species, such as wood-eating crustaceans, to colonize the wreck threaten its preservation. The effort aims to protect the historical site and its unique marine ecosystem from future damage.

What happened

A shipwreck from 1915, Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance, has remained largely intact for over a century due to the cold, harsh conditions of the Antarctic seabed.

Why it matters

Warming oceans and the possible arrival of wood-eating species threaten the wreck, prompting calls to create the first underwater protected area in the region.

Why it belongs here

This story highlights efforts to preserve a historic site and protect fragile ecosystems, showing how climate change affects both heritage and nature.

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