The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald lies at about 530 feet (approximately 160 meters) below the surface of Lake Superior. This depth places the remains on the lake floor, roughly 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Whitefish Point, in Canadian waters, and the ship broke into sections on the seabed after sinking in 1975.

Details and context

• Discovery and confirmation: The wreck was located in 1975 by a U.S. Navy aircraft, with subsequent side-scan sonar and CURV-III dives confirming a two-piece wreck in 530 feet of water. The bow and stern sections were found separated with debris scattered around.

• Physical state: The bow section stood upright in the mud, while the stern lay at a noticeable angle, with the two pieces separated by a mass of wreckage and cargo.

• Historical notes: The Edmund Fitzgerald was a large ore freighter (approximately 729 feet long) that sank during a storm on November 10, 1975, with all 29 crew members lost. The depth and location have made it one of the most studied Great Lakes shipwrecks.

If you’d like, I can pull the latest assessments or diving-safety considerations related to exploring the site, or summarize official records and diver accounts about the wreck’s condition at depth.