The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet. It carries 97% of Earth's water, absorbs the most carbon from our atmosphere, and produces more than half of our oxygen. It's also teeming with beautiful and mysterious lifeforms, from the largest mammals on Earth to the life-supporting plankton on which they feed, and acts as a huge source of economic vitality on which cultures all around the world depend.
So why do we humans continue to abuse and pollute the water we so desperately need? It's clear that if we continue down the path we're on, our planet will be irreparably damaged and irreversibly changed.
So then why is New York City dumping its old subway cars into the Atlantic Ocean?
From 2000–2010, nearly 2,500 railcars were dumped into the ocean by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). They were shipped out by barge, brought to the middle of the ocean, and unceremoniously dumped into the water.
But it's not exactly what you might think. This project, entitled "American Reclamation," served a purpose that will definitely shock you…
Please SHARE if you believe our oceans need to be protected and preserved!
"It takes about one month to prepare the the cars," photographer Stephen Mallon told us. "The MTA removes the windows seats, cooling and heating systems, the motors, and the wheels."
But the MTA is not dumping cars into the ocean out of malice or laziness...
If you can believe it, this is actually a coral reef conservation project!
The subway cars, once emptied, make perfect surfaces on which the coral can be built!
The cars are shipped to the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Long Island.
They're then dropped off the side of the barge into the waters below.
Stephen said that watching this "beautiful but violent recycling project" take place was exciting.
Once the cars hit the water, it takes about one minute for them to be swallowed up. The result?
Amazing! Life moves into the old cars quickly.
"The fish seem to be happy!" said Stephen. "They start moving in after a couple of months, and by five years there are complete colonies living there."
Please SHARE if you were surprised by this amazing recycling project!
