# Coordinates of Titanic - settling a bet
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 9, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124 "2002-08-09T11:12:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/1 "2002-08-09T11:12:26Z")
Anyone know the latitude and longitude of the Titanic? It’s needed to settle a disagreement regarding various distances from shore points… Of course, with my luck, we’ll both be right!
Thanks,
- Jinx
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/2 "2002-08-09T11:27:42Z")
Google is your friend.
> [@](#):
>
> Eventually Bob Ballard released the coordinates of the Titanic’s location. He recorded her coordinates as, stern section sits on ocean floor at 41o43’35" N, 49o56’54" W, boilers at 41o43’32" N, 49o56’49" W, bow at 41o43’57" N, 49o56’49" W.
[http://octopus.gma.org/space1/titanic.html](http://octopus.gma.org/space1/titanic.html)
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/3 "2002-08-09T13:30:07Z")
41°43’35" N, 49°56’54" W
41°43’35" N, 49°56’54" W
41°43’57" N, 49°56’49" W
You can make the degree symbol with ALT 0176
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/4 "2003-05-12T12:20:14Z")
These coordinates don’t make sense! For reference, there is a sign in Maine when you cross the 45° latitude. And, Boston is about 42°. Yet, the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland, didn’t it? Maybe Bob Ballard is protecting his bounty? - Jinx
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/5 "2003-05-12T12:27:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*
> \*\*These coordinates don’t make sense! For reference, there is a sign in Maine when you cross the 45° latitude. And, Boston is about 42°. Yet, the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland, didn’t it? Maybe Bob Ballard is protecting his bounty? - Jinx \*\*
Here’s a small map that shows you where it sank. t’s miles from everywhere but nearest to Newfoundland.
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/6 "2003-05-12T12:46:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jjimm \*
> \*\*Here’s a small map that shows you where it sank. t’s miles from everywhere but nearest to Newfoundland. \*\*
JJMM, I am curious to see the map…did you forget to include the link in your post? Thanks, Jinx
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/7 "2003-05-12T13:16:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*
> \*\*JJMM, I am curious to see the map…did you forget to include the link in your post? Thanks, Jinx \*\*
No, it’s just the map is _really really_ small. You’re not looking hard enough.
😉
Oops. [Link](http://www.chuguo.org.cn/study_abroad/campaign/Canada/images/route.gif).
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/8 "2003-05-12T13:19:15Z")
There is a map in the link posted by **Reeder** , above
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/9 "2003-05-12T13:23:26Z")
[X marks the spot](http://sailor.teemingmillions.com/titanic.html)
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### Author:  [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/10 "2003-05-13T05:27:22Z")
Why was the location kept secret for so long when there are only a few submersibles like Alvin that can go that deep?
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/11 "2003-05-13T07:16:21Z")
Because the potential profit on hawking souvenirs off the wreck would probably have been enough to garner backing for someone to buy (or build) such a submersible and loot the ship.
In fact, such a group was actually formed, although [they seem to have run into legal troubles of their own](http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw1011tit.html').
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/12 "2003-10-23T07:51:47Z")
If the corrdinates offered above are correct, then it must be REALLY true that:
When they say the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland, they mean way, way, way off the coast of Newfoundland! In fact, why even mention Newfoundland at all? Was it not scare the ignorant public? Where was Uncle Cecil back then? Perhaps Newfoundland sounded so far off as to not to scare the general public…as it was not yet a province of Canada, even!
Do we really find icebergs so far south? …Boston is 42° N
- Jinx
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2003, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/13 "2003-10-23T09:01:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sock Munkey \*
> \*\*Why was the location kept secret for so long when there are only a few submersibles like Alvin that can go that deep? \*\*
Can’t our nuclear subs go that deep? Not the US Navy is into bounty hunting (except in the Mid-East, LoL), but who can you trust these days, right? - Jinx
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2003, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/14 "2003-10-23T09:07:45Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*
> \*\*If the corrdinates offered above are correct, then it must be REALLY true that:
>
> When they say the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland, they mean way, way, way off the coast of Newfoundland! In fact, why even mention Newfoundland at all? Was it not scare the ignorant public? Where was Uncle Cecil back then? Perhaps Newfoundland sounded so far off as to not to scare the general public…as it was not yet a province of Canada, even!
>
> Do we really find icebergs so far south? …Boston is 42° N
>
> - Jinx \*\*
**Jinx** , your tone suggests you might have lost that bet 🙂
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/15 "2003-10-23T13:25:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*
> \*\*Can’t our nuclear subs go that deep? \*\*
No. At least if they can, nobody is talking! 😉
Why say it’s off the coast of Newfoundland? Well, if you look at the map linked it does appear to be the closest landmass by a few hundred miles or so… thats probably why.
🙂
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### Author:  [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coordinates-of-titanic-settling-a-bet/123124/16 "2003-10-23T14:04:29Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*
> \*\*Do we really find icebergs so far south? …Boston is 42° N
>
> - Jinx \*\*
From [here:](http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/FAQ/FAQ_Icebergs.shtml)
> [@](#):
>
> In 1926, the southernmost known iceberg (a growler) reached 30-20 N, 62-32 W (about 150 nm from Bermuda).
> In 1883, a growler was located about 200 nm south of the Azores.
> In 1907, an iceberg was sighted about 100 nm southwest of Fastnet, Ireland.
> In 1912, a growler was seen about 75 nm east of Chesapeake Bay, USA.
> In 1912, the iceberg that the R.M.S. Titanic collided with was located at 41-46N, 50-12W.