Introduction
I happen to have had the opportunity to drive by this very interesting lake a couple of times. The first time was on my drive from New York to California, and then from California to Colorado. It looks very pleasant and if the camera captures the lake with the sky just so, it is truly remarkable. I cannot say the same for the smell. It is pretty horrific if you ask me, so my suggestion is to definitely bring a clothespin to place on your nose if you happen to want to go sightseeing in the area. As with all my posts, my photos are original and my own work. Come along with me on a short tour of Great Salt Lake.
If you ever wondered what a pair of white Converse looked like next to a clear stinky lake, here you have it. I thought the contrast was pretty special in appearance. If you can see that little white mound sticking out of the lake, you guess it correctly that it is salt.
Geology of Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake ("GSL") is the remains of Lake Bonneville, a freshwater lake of the Pleistocene era around 75,000-7,250 B.C. The GSL is the largest body of water between Michigan and California, it also is the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere.
The lake is fed by many streams originating from the mountains. The high salinity is caused by minerals and no water flow out of the lake and water evaporation. The valley surrounding the lake holds deposits eroding from the mountains and these deposits have filled the valley thousands of feet deep.
Depending on the year the surface of the lake can increase or decrease. For instance, in 1962 the lake elevation was 4,192 feet above sea level and in the 1980's the lake reached an elevation of 4,212 feet. The area has been used by the First Nation for centuries as hunting and fishing grounds. Europeans caught sight of the lake in 1703 by Baron Lahontan. During 1776, an exploration of the area by Dominguez-Escalante produced the myth of a river that flowed from the Pacific Ocean to the GSL. This alleged myth was a verbal communication between the First Nation and the Dominguez-Escalante crew, which a map was drawn up for evidence.
Many years passed until Jim Bridger reportedly saw the lake in 1824 and in 1826 a group of trappers spent some time researching the lake, purportedly concluding that there was not a river flowing from it to the Pacific Ocean. In 1843, the Fremont expedition searched for a river flowing west to the Pacific, and concluded that the lake occupied part of a great basin which had no drainage to the sea.
By 1845, the first Mormon pioneer party reached the GSL and Brigham Young accompanied by other leaders visited the lake. By that same year the GSL was supplying salt to settlers.
Conclusion
The high salt content of the lake has made it unusable for swimming, but very resourceful for collecting brine shrimp for fish food. There have been the occasional resorts like the Saltair from 1893 until 1930's, but none have stood the test of time. Currently, people like to sail on the GSL and collect minerals for health products, or just drive on by to enjoy the amazing scenery. So, if you would ever like to test buoyancy this place is a great prospect, definitely a photo-op moment. Peace.
Photographer: @eaglespirit
Date: 2015
Location: Utah
Very nice pictures! Nature is amazing.
Thank you!
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The white converse pic is pretty cool.. I've been to Salt Lake several times driving back and forth.. I'm not a fan.. the smell is truly obnoxious.. although I've caught some pretty amazing sunsets there
oooo can you share the sunset photos? i love sunsets ... yeah the smell i so nasty LOL
They're on my laptop at home..
Share when you get home ... sometime ...
if you love sunset photos, please check my entry for today goldenhourphotography contest. It's a shot I've taken on Lake of Como, Italy. I'd like to know if you like it!
You really do have a good eye for capturing nature's beauty
thank you so much my sweet friend @spozone
My brother was stationed at Hill AFB in Ogden! I've been there twice. What an interesting area.
oh nice! yes it is very interesting ... did you find it smelly at all?
Oh yes.
Some great photos, especially loved the Converse one. Looks stunningly beautiful, pity about the smell.
In Australia there is a salt lake in the middle of the country that gets fed by heavy rains on the rare occasions they happen (it's in desert country). Usually it is bone dry, so when it does rain people make the trip to see it. It's called Lake Eyre.
Hey! Thank you for coming and looking. (:
I agree, it tis a pity about the smell.
Have you gone to see Lake Eyre? Almost like Jane Eyre ... oooo spooky. LOL!
Haha, yes very similar names. The synchronicity :)
I haven't had the chance to visit Lake Eyre. It's not easy to get to. Its only accessible by 4WD, and that's after driving for about 2 days from the main cities, or hire a plane. Though this difficulty has helped to preserve it.
Wow! Now I have to go do some research ...
You said it doesn't smell good?
Very interesting read. I guess all the salt and other minerals eroding into the lake cause an odor
hi there @chelsea88, there are a lot of dead things around too .. dead plants, dead birds .. and more than likely the salt and mineral erosion to boot. Read above, the smell is confirmed ...
See 2-year article:
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2015/10/17/researchers-dont-blame-great-salt-lake-bad-smell/74153692/
Ooh I didn't see you mentioned dead birds and stuff.
Yeah I prefer the beautiful photos lol
I like these beautiful pictures. Thank you
Thank you for stopping by to comment and appreciate my photography.
Nice view, don't think we have such a lake in Africa.
Makes me wonder wonder, Africa is the Motherland and so rich in resources. I need to go do research now to see! Thanks for commenting.
Great post, the landscape is beautiful :)
Thanks @phortun. (:
Oh, very interesting!
Thanks!
@originalworks
I wanna take a trip up there this year. I've been close but was very busy. Great pictures!
Dont forget the nose plug!! Lol thank you so much for the photo appreciation! xx
The salt water get all in your sinus or something?
The smell! Lol
Did you see I wrote that? And then there was confirmation from the daily Whistle Stop. xx