Why Bodies Don’t Decompose In Michigan’s Lake Superior

Have you ever heard the saying, "Lake Superior doesn't give up her dead?" This saying was forever immortalized in the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." If not, you have now. The myth behind the phrase is that those who go down with the ship in Michigan's largest Great Lake never resurface. But is there any truth to Gordon Lightfoot's lyrics?

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When the skies of November turn gloomy, and your ship goes down and you with it, will your final resting place be the tomb at the bottom of Lake Superior? Will you remain nearly perfectly preserved for eternity on the bottom?

Lake Superior: A Cold, Watery Grave

The extreme cold of Lake Superior is the main culprit behind its "watery graveyard" nickname. With the average water temperature around 40°F and even colder at its depths (hovering around 34°F), the lake doesn't provide the conditions for bacteria to thrive.

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Normally, after death, bacteria in the body produce gases that cause the corpse to float to the surface. But in Lake Superior's icy waters, this bacterial activity slows down or halts completely. Without these gases, bodies often remain submerged.

Adipocere: The 'Corpse Wax' Effect in Lake Superior

While decomposition doesn't stop entirely, it happens very slowly in Lake Superior. A waxy substance called adipocere, also called "corpse wax," forms from the breakdown of body fat. This waxy layer preserves the body, preventing further decay.

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The result of adipocere is that many of Lake Superior's victims remain in near-pristine condition for years, trapped in icy stasis.

Shipwrecks and Lost Sailors Should Remain Untouched

Lake Superior's deep, cold waters hold the remains of an estimated 550 shipwrecks, with an estimated 30,000 sailors lost to its depths. Many of these sailors' bodies never resurface, preserved by the lake's unique environment. The lack of currents and the cold temperatures ensure that human remains and sunken ships stay relatively undisturbed for decades.

Should you encounter a shipwreck in any of the Great Lakes, remember that it is illegal to disturb shipwrecks and anything they may contain under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. So, does Lake Superior truly "not give up her dead?" Scientifically speaking, yes.

Should you find human remains in a shipwreck, do not engage them in any way. Resurface and notify the authorities immediately.