Anchor

ships · ocean · engineering

Heavy metal claw. An anchor is made of metal and has curved arms or flukes that dig into the ocean or river bottom. The weight and shape work together to hold a ship firmly in place.

Stops drifting. Wind and water currents push ships around, but an anchor connected by a long chain keeps the vessel from moving. Without anchors, boats would drift away whenever they stopped.

Connected by chain. An anchor stays attached to the ship with a thick chain or rope. The chain is so heavy and strong that it can handle the pull of a large ship in rough seas.

Ancient invention. People have used anchors for thousands of years, and the word comes from Latin and Greek languages. Early anchors were simple rocks tied to ships before metal ones were invented.