The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the Pride of the American Side and a Great Lakes "Laker." So what was it hauling? For the majority of its 17 year career, taconite pellets from the Iron Range of Minnesota. Taconite is a hard, low-grade iron ore used for steel production. Iron ore and taconite from the Iron Range has been used worldwide in infastructure, including the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge. The Edmund Fitzgerald was built to have the largest cargo hold ever, with a maximum capa