MV Ithaka Shipwreck
MV Ithaka
A cargo ship that ran aground on the shallows at Bird Cove in 1960; its rust-red hull standing on the intertidal zone is one of Churchill's signature photo spots.
This freighter, carrying nickel concentrate, was caught in a storm in September 1960 and ran aground near Bird Cove east of Churchill. Its crew were all rescued, and the hull has remained where it lies ever since. The rusted steel looks especially dramatic against the tides and the evening glow. At low tide you can walk across the rocky shore to get closer, but be mindful of the incoming tide and of polar bears, and in autumn always go with a guide. It is free to visit, and most city and tundra tours stop here on the way.
Opening hours
All day (tide-dependent)
Nearby sights
- Polar Bear Holding Facility
- Miss Piggy Plane Wreck
- Churchill Northern Studies Centre
- Itsanitaq Museum
- Churchill Station & Parks Canada Visitor Centre
- Churchill Wildlife Management Area & Tundra Buggy Tours
- Cape Merry Battery
- Churchill River Beluga Whales