These Atlanta subway cars are now home to endangered sea turtles and coral reefs

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1. At the end of last year, the [Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)](https://www.itsmarta.com/marta-railcars-developing-into-reef.aspx) dumped two railcars off Georgia’s coast as part of a program to [develop reef habitats](https://www.cnn.com/travel/atlanta-subway-railcars-atlantic-reef/index.html) and marine wildlife with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Reef Project.

   In August, the DNR Coastal Resources Division made its first dive to check on the cars and discovered soft coral beginning to grow and at least nine species of game fish.

   Subway cars aren’t the only unusual objects scuba divers and anglers can find in what’s known as Artificial Reef L about 23 nautical miles east of Ossabaw Island. There are also U.S. Army M-60 battle tanks, barges, tugboats and even New York City subway cars.

   The reef was first created in 1976 and is part of a network of 32 offshore reefs, according to MARTA. But the practice of dumping manmade materials into the ocean to create artificial reefs dates back centuries.

   In the 1700s Japanese fisherman were known to sink old vessels and rocks into local waters to improve fishing, according to the [Georgia Department of Natural Resources](https://coastalgadnr.org/sites/default/files/crd/Reefs/Guide%20to%20Georgia's%20Offshore%20Artificial%20Reefs%20Jan2022.pdf).

2. Does Atlanta have a subway??

   have been in Georgia for 24 years, hearing it for the first time

3. Interesting. They did say that they checked for problematic substances and removed them before making the artificial reefs. We had a similar idea in France in Golfe-Juan in the 80s using tyres. Except it was a horrible idea since they are extremely toxic for the environment so they got removed.