Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Young Zion

Explore the mystery of the Young Zion, an unverified wreck site offshore Toronto, with historical ties to Lake Erie.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Young Zion
  • Type: Steamer
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Location: Approx. 43.576717° N, -79.199778° W
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43.576717° N, -79.199778° W
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Steamer (based on historical mention)

Description

This NOAA listing for Young Zion denotes it as a recorded but unverified or partially documented wreck or obstruction. The entry lacks soundings, vessel specifics, or definitive wreck confirmation, suggesting it may stem from anecdotal reporting, early hydrographic notes, or undocumented observations.

The vessel has been attributed to a steamer, which aligns with sparse historical accounts of a Young Zion foundered in the 1880s. However, the location listed (just offshore Toronto, near the Leslie Street Spit) does not match earlier historical accounts placing the vessel in Lake Erie near Walnut Creek. This raises the possibility of:

  • Two different vessels named Young Zion,
  • A misattribution of wreck name or coordinates,
  • Or early transcription error in wreck databases.

History

No direct records link this NOAA wreck site with known loss events in the Toronto area. However, the existence of a location marker on NOAA Chart 14822 suggests the presence of submerged material or navigational concern noted during survey planning or reconnaissance phases. It may also be a residual entry awaiting modern resurvey.

The Young Zion noted in historical sources (June 13, 1881 loss) reportedly carried railroad iron and cash and foundered during a storm off Walnut Creek, Lake Erie—not this Lake Ontario site.

Significant Incidents

  • Reported loss on June 13, 1881, while carrying railroad iron and cash.

Final Disposition

Unknown. No verification or confirmation of wreckage. Listed in NOAA records as requiring survey. The “Depth: 0 m” and “Position Quality: Poor” indicate unconfirmed data, possibly marking a cautionary or anecdotal wreck site pending modern hydrographic validation.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Reported in NOAA wreck database, no recorded discovery date or confirming survey found. Could be a legacy entry pending removal, clarification, or confirmation.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The NOAA entry for Young Zion presents a mystery wreck site offshore from Toronto, not aligned with the Lake Erie loss location historically linked to a steamer of the same name in 1881. The listing, with poor positional quality and no sounding or discovery history, is most likely a placeholder or misattribution, flagged for future survey. Until verified, it remains a possible but unconfirmed shipwreck, either due to clerical error or an undocumented vessel of the same name.