Titanic

Here are the top 10 facts about the Titanic:

  1. Largest Ship of Its Time – The Titanic was the largest passenger ship in the world when it set sail in 1912, measuring 882 feet 9 inches (269 meters) long and weighing over 46,000 tons.

  2. "Unsinkable" Myth – The Titanic was widely believed to be unsinkable due to its advanced safety features, including 16 watertight compartments. However, the iceberg that struck the ship breached multiple compartments, leading to its sinking.

  3. Maiden Voyage Disaster – The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, during its first-ever voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean.

  4. Over 1,500 Lives Lost – Out of 2,224 passengers and crew, more than 1,500 people died, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

  5. Not Enough Lifeboats – The Titanic only had 20 lifeboats, enough for about 1,178 people, even though the ship could carry over 3,300 passengers and crew. Many lifeboats were launched partially filled.

  6. Rich & Famous Onboard – Some of the world's wealthiest people were passengers, including John Jacob Astor IV (one of the richest men in the world) and Benjamin Guggenheim. Many first-class passengers survived, while third-class passengers had a much lower survival rate.

  7. The Band Played Until the End – As the ship sank, the eight-member band continued playing music to calm passengers. They all perished, but their bravery is legendary.

  8. SOS Distress Call – The Titanic was one of the first ships to use the "SOS" distress signal, but help arrived too late. The RMS Carpathia reached survivors about 2 hours after the Titanic sank.

  9. Discovered in 1985 – The Titanic's wreck was found on September 1, 1985, by explorer Robert Ballard and a team using advanced sonar technology. It lies about 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) deep in the Atlantic Ocean.

  10. Inspired Many Movies & Books – The Titanic has inspired countless books and films, most famously James Cameron’s 1997 movie "Titanic", which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.