Lake Superior north of Whitefish Point, Michigan, the site of the Fitzgerald wreck among many others, is still dangerous to shipping due to its high volume of traffic, its complex underwater topography and water currents, thick fog, and intensifying windstorms. The water of Lake Superior does not reach depths greater than fifty meters until the lake opens to the west.

Improved weather forecasts and advanced onboard technology have made navigating Lake Superior much safer. Survival suits, mandatory depth finders, and emergency beacons with geolocators have all helped save lives over the past five decades. The Whitefish Point Lighthouse, which still stands tall during cloudy, wintry days, also does its best to steer ships away from the shallow, rocky shoreline.