RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
German World War One submarine that was abandoned in 1917 uncovered on French beach
The tourist attraction reappears every two to three years - and could disappear again at any time
A GERMAN submarine from World War One has emerged on the coast of France - over 101 years after it was abandoned.
Found buried in the sand off Wissant, near Calais, the remains of the UC-61 vessel have been exposed.
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After it hit landed and became flooded, the submarine's crew abandoned it in 1917 and by 1930 it was entirely buried under sand.
The vessel becomes visible every two to three years and is a reoccurring tourist attraction.
Since December two sections of the submarine have been visible at low tide, 330ft (100m) from the dune.
The local mayor Bernard Bracq warns that the sight won't last long.
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He said: "The wreck is visible briefly every two to three years, depending on the tides and the wind that leads to sand movements, but a good gust of wind and the wreck will disappear again."
But local tour guide Vincent Schmitt disagrees, as he believes more of the UC-61 is set to be exposed.
He said: "All the residents of Wissant knew there was a submarine here, but the wreck is mostly silted and therefore invisible.
"Pieces reappear from time to time, but this is the first time we discover so much."
German U-boats sunk hundreds of vessels during WW1 by targeting Allied shipping.
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According to historians, the UC-61 sunk at least 11 ships using mines or torpedoes.
The submarines last trip left from Zeebrugge in Belgium and headed to Bolonge-sur-Mer and Le Havre to lay mines.
Here is ran aground and all 26 crewmen surrendered to French authorities.
World War II shipwreck discovered at the bottom of a harbour in Sri Lanka 75 years after the vessel was sunk by Japanese bombers
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