On June 24, 2015, the Canadian Parliament officially deemed the northern shore of Lake Superior’s waters in Ontario a national marine conservation area (NMCA), a proposal that’s been in the works since 2007. One of the largest freshwater marine protected areas in the world, the area covers 3,800 square miles of fresh water, lake bed and shoreline.

Much of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage can be found in these waters, including dozens of shipwrecks, diverse marine life, critical spawning areas, and archeological sites.

The Lake Superior NMCA extends 87 miles and offers multiple public activities such as birding, fishing, hiking, sailing and diving. In addition to shipwrecks accessible to rec divers, tec divers can explore the Gunilda. Located at around 280 feet, the luxury steam yacht was built in 1897 and sank near McGarvey’s Shoal after its owner refused to hire a pilot to navigate the shoal or buy a second tug to pull the yacht to safety.

The shipwreck, along with the other sites and shoreline, is now under Canada’s uppermost level of federal protection; the new designation has also banned the mining, extraction and dumping of oil or gas in the protected area of Lake Superior.