Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve

Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
The Comet under sail. The only known treasure ship of Lake Superior, she sank in 1875 with 70 tons of silver ore.[1]
Map showing the location of Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
Map showing the location of Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
Location within the state of Michigan
LocationLake Superior, Chippewa County, Luce County, Michigan USA
Nearest cityEmerson, Michigan
Coordinates46°46′38″N 84°57′04″W / 46.7772°N 84.951°W / 46.7772; -84.951
Area376 square miles (970 km2)
Established1987
Governing bodyMichigan Department of Natural Resources

The Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve was established in 1987 to protect and conserve shipwrecks and historical resources on 376 square miles (970 km2) of Lake Superior bottomlands in Whitefish Bay and around Whitefish Point, Michigan. The formation of the Michigan Underwater Preserves helped stop controversy over artifact removal from shipwrecks of this area. The preserve is now known for deep, well preserved shipwrecks in clear water accessible to scuba divers with technical skill and experience. The preserve is one of the last places in the Great Lakes to observe shipwrecks without zebra mussel encrustation.

  1. ^ Sundstrom, Shine (23 July 1980). "Comet only known treasure ship on bottom of lake". The Evening News. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. p. 4. Retrieved 8 March 2011.