R
Ratzki
Guest
What is being blown apart in this significant explosion. What is the significance of the blast?
Hint: it's first victim was the USS Saranac in 1875.
What is being blown apart in this significant explosion. What is the significance of the blast?
Hint: it's first victim was the USS Saranac in 1875.
"The Ripple Rock explosion was seen throughout Canada, live on CBC Television. It was one of the first live coast to coast television coverages of an event in Canada.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripple_Rock#cite_note-2</sup> The first known large ship to fall prey to Ripple Rock was the sidewheel steamer Saranac in 1875, as it was heading north to Alaska. At least 20 large and 100 smaller vessels were badly damaged or sunk between then and 1958. At least 110 people drowned in these accidents." - Wikipedia.
Very interesting. And big!
Very interesting. And big!
R
Ratzki
Guest
My Grandfather drove with his family to watch the blasting of Ripple Rock. With 1,375 tons of explosives packed into the peaks, April 5, 1958 was the date set for detonation . On that day, at 9:31 a.m., Dr. Victor Dolmage, consulting engineer for the Ministry of Public Works, pushed the plunger that set off the largest non-nuclear explosion ever. The blast pulverized 370,000 tons of rock and displaced 320,000 tons of water. Rock and debris rocketed 1,000 feet into the air. The explosion also created a 25-foot tidal wave which quickly dissipated and caused no damage.
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AirborneBob
Guest
errrh..to ask an obvious question...Why?
AbB, see my post.
A
AirborneBob
Guest
So...they blew up a rock formation for maritime safety purposes? Ok ...that makes sense...
R
Ratzki
Guest
Below is the scene ai Ripple Rock in about 1910. There is a ferry crossing, but you can see the current passing through here. Remember that this is the ocean and the rip-current is caused by the change of the tides, which here on the Pacific can be remarkable and vary from one side of Vancouver Island to the other. Also, this is not an inlet with only one way in and out, but the straights between a large island and the mainland. I have fished out near here and on some tides our 18 foot boat with a 80 hp outboard can bearly keep forward momentum at 70% throttle.
This is the same site with the Rock gone, still formidable currents but no rock to hit, or whirlpools that suck the boats outa sight as what happened to the Saranac and many others.
This is the same site with the Rock gone, still formidable currents but no rock to hit, or whirlpools that suck the boats outa sight as what happened to the Saranac and many others.
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Lord Bane (FGM)
Guest
Good looking country, very rugged.
FDLMAO! Sorry, was just thinking about the environmentalists. {snicker}
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ACSpectre
Guest
Very cool.