<p><strong>New 3-D images (bottom picture) released today by the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a> show the <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110411-civil-war-150th-anniversary-fort-sumter-battle/">Civil War</a>-era gunboat <a href="http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Archaeology/Civil-War-Shipwrecks.aspx">U.S.S <em>Hatteras</em></a> (top) in exquisite detail. </strong></p><p>Severe storms, such as 2008's <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/09/080908-hurricane-ike-news.html">Hurricane Ike</a>, have moved sand off of the shipwreck that sank during a battle exactly 150 years ago, on January 11, 1863.</p><p>Resting in 57 feet (17 meters) of water, the shifting sands enabled archaeologists to go in with high-resolution sonars and map newly uncovered parts of the wreck.</p><p>The resolution is so good, "it's almost photographic," said <a href="http://jamesdelgado.com/archaeologist/archaeologist">archaeologist James Delgado</a>, director of maritime heritage for <a href="http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/">NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries</a>. Delgado and his collaborators have also produced fly-through animations of the historic site and war grave.</p><p>"You literally are giving people virtual access to the incredible museum that sits at the bottom of the sea," he said.</p><p>—<em>Jane J. Lee</em></p>