The Magenta caught fire and exploded in Toulon harbor in 1875. At the time, she was flagship of the French Mediterranean fleet. The Magenta now survives as an underwater archaeological excavation 15 meters down. At the time of her loss, she was carrying antiquities from Carthage and thus her modern excavation came due to an interest in her cargo rather than from her status as an early ironclad. Excavations on the Magenta have been conducted by the Groupe de Recherche en Arch�ologie Navale (GRAN).
If you come across any further information on the Internet about the Magenta's career, demise, or current excavation, please contact me at [email protected].
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