Japanese Pearl Harbour: Truk Lagoon, one of world's largest ship graveyard

New Delhi: It may look like a tropical paradise, but this stunning lagoon masks a dark secret... under the clear blue waters lies the biggest graveyard of ships in the world. In the Second World War Chuuk Lagoon was Japan's main base in the South Pacific, but in 1944, American forces launched an attack and over a two day bombardment more than 60 warships ended up on the floor of the lagoon. Truk Lagoon in Micronesia is home to a spectacular wealth of sunken military treasures, courtesy of Operation Hailstone. Nearly 70 years later, the lagoon has become a major tourist destination. Divers can explore what is now a legally-protected underwater museum. Disturbing or removing any of the underwater relics can draw fines and possible jail time, according to Pacific Wrecks, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the area's history. And if the prospect of swimming through coral-coated sunken submarines doesn't get your adrenaline pumping, there's also this tidbit, via Pacific Wrecks. Photos of the lagoon and some of its wreckage: Diver explores Chuuk wrecksite. Skull of a Japanese serviceman from the wreck of the vessel Aikoku Maru during World War II. Photographed in Truk Lagoon, Micronesia, the site of a 1944 World War II battle where many Japanese ships were sunk by American forces. The Betty Bomber sits in 60 fsw in the Pacific in Truk Lagoon Micronesia August 2008. Torpedo exploding against Japanese tanker ship in Truk Lagoon during an attack by American torpedo bombers Scuba Diver an long lance torpedoes in Japanese Shipwreck Heian Maru, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean, Chuuk. Oil Barrels inside Japanese Yamigiri Maru Wreck, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean, Chuuk Scuba Diver at Japanese Shipwreck Heian Maru, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean, Chuuk These US Navy carrier-based fliers, shown May 20, 1944, were among the 22 rescued from the Truk Lagoon by the American submarine Tang during the American attack of the Japanese stronghold on April 29-30. The submarine, under the command of Comm. Richard H. OíKane of San Rafael, Calif., braved the fire from shore batteries to make the rescues. Shown left to right are (bottom row): Harry B. Gemmell, aviation radioman 2nd/C of Philadelphia, Pa.; Joseph Hranek, aviation radioman, 2nd/C. of Endicott, N.Y.; James L. Livingston, aviation radioman, 1st/C.of Los Angeles; Joseph Daniel Gendron, aviation machinistís mate, 2nd/C., of Oakland, R.I. Shown in second row, left to right, are Robert William Gruebel, aviation machinistís mate, 1st/C. of Memphis, Tenn.; Robert Edwin Hill, aviation radioman 2nd/C. of Houston, Tex.; Lt. Comm. Richard H. USN; H.A. Thompson, aviation ordnance man, 2nd/C. of San Bernardino, Calif.; Aubrey James Gill, aviation radioman, 2nd/C of Compton, Calif. In third row, left to right, are Ensign Carroll L. Farrell of Ada, Okla.; Lt. (J.G.) James G. Cole,of Killeen, Tex.; Lt. John Joseph Dowdle, Jr. of Wilmette, Ill.; Lt. (J.G.) J.A. Burns of Wynnewood, PA.; Lt. (J.G.) Robert T. Barbor of Rockville Center, L.I., N.Y.; Lt. Harry Edwin Hill of Virginia, Minn.; Lt. (J.G.) Scott Scammell 2nd, of Yardley, PA. In the top row, left to right are d/C., of Portland, Ore.; Lt. (J.G.) Robert F. Kanze, of Freehold, N.J.; Lt. Donald Kirkpatrick, Jr. of Evanston, Ill.; James J. Lenahan, aviation radioman, 2nd/C.of Westfield, N.J.; Comm. A.R. Matter, USN, of Butte, Mont.; Richard L. Bentley, aviation ordnance man, 2nd/C.of Los Angeles, Calif.; Lt. Robert S. Nelson of Great Falls, Mont. Low-hanging clouds drift over Truk Lagoon, Japanesen ships ride at anchor and enemy planes are scattered about beside flight strip on Island (foreground) as U.S. Navy task force planes arrive for opening of February 16 and 17 attack on enemy's stronghold in the Carolines, the first blow at the base on April 25, 1944. Island at top. Wreck of a Japanese Betty Bomber aircraft lies in a mangled wreck in the bottom of the lagoon Bullets found in the shipwreck after the 1944 attack A car which was inside a Japanese ship which sank A tank settles on the bottom of the lagoon covered in barnacles The Betty Bomber sits at the bottom of the lagoon. more than 60 warships and 275 aircraft ended up on the floor of the lagoon Japanese Pearl Harbour: A Grumman Avenger drops a bomb on his this Japanese destroyer, veiled in a gigantic cloud of smoke steam and foam. It was one of many enemy ships that were sent to the bottom in the smashing task force raid