If you aren’t familiar with the Great Salt Lake, you may not know that it is a brilliant historical and geographical feature in the state of Utah. In fact, since it was first discovered, it has been used for industry, scientific studies, and recreation. It contains most of the wetlands found in Utah, which are full to the brim with animals, birds, and insects in an ecosystem that is like no other.
Even if you know a little bit about the Great Salt Lake, you may be surprised by some of the facts we have compiled for you. This lake is a brilliant location that has been the inspiration for many artists and residents of the area. Let’s look at what makes it truly unique.
Boosting the Economy
With the many different industries prevalent near the Great Salt Lake, it offers a substantial boost to the Salt Lake City economy. In fact, the lake and the businesses related to it bring in over $1 billion a year in net economic output. In addition, the lake provides over 7,000 part and full-time jobs for residents of Utah, so it provides a big boost to the economy as well as the ecology.
Ancient Waters
In what is now the Great Basin area, Lake Bonneville formed about 32,000 years ago. At that time, it was about a thousand feet deep and it covered an area of nearly 20,000 square miles. The waters have receded dramatically since then, but you can still see markings of the water levels on the mountain steppes of the area. These consist of protrusions coming from the Wasatch mountain range. Sevier Lake, Great Salt Lake, and Utah Lake are all that remain of this massive water area in modern times.
The Smell of the Great Salt Lake
If you’ve ever been near the lake, you likely know that it has an odor that is indescribable. There are a handful of different reasons for this. The first is that the lake carries huge amounts of salinity. This means that less bacterial sulfates which make hydrogen sulfide.
A second source of the lake smell is the combination of low depth and low oxygen where the lake is. Bacteria can decompose quickly, but it removes oxygen at a more rapid pace. This can also be a source of the rotten egg smell that the Great Salt Lake is known for.
Beyond that, the existence of industries who dump waste into the lake adds to the odor. The same is true for the large amounts of algae and brine shrimp which wash up on shore every single day. Each of these causes melds together to create the unique smell of the Great Salt Lake.
The Spiral Jetty
The Spiral Jetty, now a natural feature of the landscape on the shore near Ronzel Point, was created back in 1970. It was largely made of black basalt and mud; however, time and weathering have now made this feature turn white in color. Robert Smithson was the designer of the jetty, which extends 1,500 feet into the lake. It is only visible when the water level goes below 4,195 feet elevation. It is a major tourist attraction when it's visible.
Sea Monster Myths
Everyone has heard about the mythical Loch Ness monster, but there have been wild tales told about a monster in the Great Salt Lake since the 1800s. This creature has been described as looking similar to a dolphin or having the body of a crocodile and head of a horse. Sightings are uncommon nowadays, but if you’re interested in finding a monster, you may get lucky when you visit the lake.
Pink Floyd the Flamingo
In the 1980s, a flamingo named Pink Floyd escaped from the downtown aviary that it was being kept in. He made his way to the lake, where he spent winters eating brine shrimp and socializing with swans and gulls. The flamingo did well but has not been seen since 2005 in Idaho, where he often visited during the summer months.
The Great Saltair
If you have been to any of the amazing concerts at the Great Saltair, you may be surprised to find that it used to be the location for something entirely different. At one time, this was a popular resort that was owned and managed by the Salt Lake & Los Angeles Railway along with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was built in 1893 and had trains coming in and out every hour.
This resort included dancing, swimming, and lounging and the owners of the resort wanted to build the area into a Coney Island of the West. However, many of the resort buildings were destroyed by a fire in 1925. It was rebuilt and quickly became a part of the Roaring '20s decade of decadence and flappers.
After the Great Depression, the resort suffered flooding, fires, and diminished interest. It never went back to its initial popularity, but it is now an event venue for musicians and other entertainers.
The Saltiness of the Great Salt Lake
For those who have been in a salt lake before, you probably assume they are all largely the same. That’s far from the truth, however. The ocean has an average salinity of about 3.5%. The Great Salt Lake has a huge variance in salinity that can be anywhere from 5% to 27%, depending on what area you are in. The reason for this is because the minerals that come into contact with the lake have no way to get out. This is common with land-locked lakes, and there are many around the world like the Dead Sea and Don Juan Pond in Antarctica that have much higher salinity than the Great Salt Lake.
Largest Salt Lake in the Western Hemisphere
The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake that can be found in the Western hemisphere, but its impressive statistics don’t end there. It is also the fourth largest lake in the entire world that doesn’t flow to another water system. It has an average depth of 14 feet with a maximum depth of 33 feet. The record water levels include 2,300 to 937 square miles in maximum and minimum, respectively.
Ecosystem and Wildlife
The Great Salt Lake is well known for migrating birds of all sorts. Some of the most common are the barn owl, American avocet, bald eagle, snowy plover, and golden eagle. There are also tons of pelicans and eat off of fish in Gunnison Island. Brine shrimp are the most significant source of animal life in the lake itself. Many other animals live in the area, and you’re likely to see some of them if you visit.
As you can see, there are many fun facts about the Great Salt Lake that you may not have heard of before. Whether you’re intrigued by the massive amount of salt in the lake, you want to find the creature of the lake, or you want to simply explore and enjoy nature, it’s an excellent place to enjoy yourself and relax. You can go alone, bring the family, or hit up a road trip to Utah to appreciate the sights and sounds (but perhaps not the smells) of the lake and visit the nearby tourist attractions. Finally, make sure you’re ready for this next trip to the Great Salt Lake by getting your cheap car insurance in Utah here.
