Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake
Lake during the drought of 2003.
Administration
Country	United States ( Utah )
Geography
Latitude Longitude	Not specified ( Find this place )
Type	Natural lake endoreic water salt
Origin	Tectonics
Area	4 400 km 2
Length	120 km
Width	45 km
Altitude	1283 m
Depth Max Medium	10.7 m
Island (s) principal (s)	Antelope , Stansbury, Fremont
Miscellaneous
Fishing population	no, only the brine shrimp
change

The Great Salt Lake, in English is a lake north of the State of Utah to the United States. It is the largest salt lake in the Americas , the fourth largest lake endoreic the world and is part of the fifty largest lakes in the world .

An ordinary year, the area of the lake is 4400 km ² but its size fluctuates with the volume of precipitation. Thus, in 1963 , the lake is covered more than 2 460 km ² while its size was 8547 km ² in 1983 .

The present lake is a remnant of a vast prehistoric lake - the Lake Bonneville - which stretched across the western part of Utah during the prehistoric times. Although it is sometimes called the " Dead Sea America " , the lake attracts a multitude of birds like the Phalarope Wilson .

The lake is at an altitude of 1280 meters in the region arid the Great Basin , deprived of any oceanic influence by the Rocky Mountains. Her presence sweetens temperatures and favored Mormons coming to settle Salt Lake City from 1847.

The regions of West and South are particularly inhospitable, being composed of large flat areas and salt. Since 1914 , they are part of the prestigious world records for speed: this "playground" (locally Recreation Area) is the largest in the world.

Summary 1 Origin 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Hydrology 3.1 Project West Desert Pumping 3.2 Salinity 4 Animal and plant species 5 Economy 6 Annexes 6.1 Related articles 6.2 Bibliography 6.3 External Links 6.4 Notes and references

Origin

The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of prehistoric Lake Bonneville , whose surface was approximately that of Lake Michigan . With a size ten times larger and a depth of 305 meters , it spread over the U.S. states of Utah , the Idaho and Nevada during the Pleistocene Epoch ( there are between 14 000 and 32 000 years), that is to say during the Ice Age in Wisconsin. With climate change at the end of this glacial period, the lake began to dry up and split into small lakes like the Great Salt Lake, the Lake Utah , the Sevier Lake , the Rush Lake and the small salt lake .

Geography

The lake is endoreic which means that all water falling in the lake in spring only by evaporation , not by a river. The lake is therefore much saltier than the oceans. Indeed, the salts accumulate over the years without being transported out of the lake. The maximum depth of the lake is 10.7 meters, with an average of 4 meters . With this salinity , the density of water is higher and people float more easily on the water . Decor Winter Olympics of 2002 , the high mountains surrounding the lake also feeds water through the melting of the snowpack throughout the winter.

The first settlers Mormons arrived in the area on 24 July 1847 by Emigration Canyon and they founded the city of Salt Lake City they called Great Salt Lake City Salt Lake's name they had just reached . This important city is located south-east and east of the lake, between it and the Wasatch mountain range. In contrast, northern and western shores are virtually deserted. The Bonneville Salt Flats , and salt desert country that welcomes drivers wishing to beat speed records, lies a hundred miles west, the mountains Oquirrh and Stansbury south.

A line of railway across the lake. The line, laid in large part on a dyke, divides the lake into two. The mixing of waters is still with gaps allowing water runoff.

The number of islands is difficult to quantify because the selection criteria may vary depending on the source and because the water level fluctuates from year to year. According to the U.S. Geological Service (USGS), there are eight islands that have never been submerged since the statements are made. All cons have been connected with the shore at times of drought. The lake also has a multitude of islands and rocks that are covered during floods . The service Geology of Utah speaks seven of eleven islands are south of Lake .

From the largest to the smallest, we find islands Antelope , Stansbury, Fremont, Carrington, Dolphin, Cub, Badger, Strongs Knob, Gunnison, Goose, Browns and Hat. Islands Dolphin, Gunnison, Cub, and Strongs Knob are located in the northwest of the lake while the others are in the South.

With its 113 km ^2, Antelope is the largest island in the lake. The summit called Frary Peak rises to 2,010 meters. The State Park Antelope Island is home to the Fielding Garr Ranch House built in 1848 .

Climate

The climate of the region is an arid continental climate. This climate presents fairly dry winters can be cold and summers can be hot. The record minimum temperature of -30 C and while the record maximum temperature is 42 C.

On average, frost occurs from November to February and maximum temperatures are near 30 C from June to September.

The rainfall in the region are low during the summer and are strongest during the spring. The low average annual precipitation and high summer temperatures partly explain the fact that the lake is endoreic.

Statements from the airport in Salt Lake City

Month	Jan	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	Seven	October	November	December	Year
Record maximum temperatures ( C)	17,0	21,0	26,0	30,0	37,0	40,0	42,0	42,0	38,0	32,0	24,0	21,0	42,0
Average maximum temperatures ( C)	3,0	7,0	12,0	16,0	22,0	28,0	33,0	32,0	26,0	18,0	9,0	3,0	17,3
Average minimum temperature ( C)	-6,0	-3,0	1,0	4,0	8,0	13,0	17,0	17,0	11,0	5,0	-1,0	-6,0	5,0
Record minimum temperature ( C)	-30,0	-26,0	-18,0	-9,0	-4,0	2,0	4,0	3,0	-3,0	-9,0	-26,0	-26,0	-30,0
Average monthly rainfall (mm)	34,8	33,8	48,5	51,3	53,1	19,6	18,3	19,3	33,8	39,9	35,6	31,2	419,2

Weather caused by the lake

The relatively warm water because of the thinness of the lake and the local climate is often the cause of falls of snow in general at the beginning or end of winter. Indeed, when winds from the cold north, northwest or west pass over the warmer waters of the lake, the temperature difference between the lake and the cold air creates clouds that give snowfall on the banks under wind. In the middle of winter, the temperature of the lake gets too low for this phenomenon can occur.

Every summer, the temperature difference can generate six to eight storms. These storms are accompanied by heavy rainfall events in spring and autumn .

Hydrology

The water level is recorded since 1875 and is located on average at 1280 meters above sea level The level is strongly influenced by precipitation according to seasons but also by the abstraction of water made rivers to supply the agriculture and the city of Salt Lake City .

Because the line of railway cutting in half the lake, the water level of the portion south of the lake is 15 to 60 centimeters higher than the level in the northern portion. This reflects the small size of gaps for passage of water under the railway track and the arrival of almost all of the rivers to the south of Lake . A difference in salinity exists for the same reason.

Draft West Desert Pumping

The exceptional level of water in the 1980s caused considerable damage to property of the inhabitants of the West Lake and an erosion of the expressway Interstate 80. Also, the State of Utah launched a project for construction of dikes associated with a pumping unit to the west of the lake and that can cut 1.5 million gallons per minute .

The system was to drain water in a large pool of 1 300 km ² dug into the desert to the west to facilitate the evaporation of water and prevent the overflow of the lake. In case of drought , the pond water could be returned to the lake .

At the end of the first year of operation, the pumps had rejected only 0.6 km ³ of water and the project was finally stopped in June 1989 when the lake level had dropped by nearly two meters above peak floods of 1986 and 1987. In total, the pumps were rejected as 3.4 km ³ of water during their years of service .

Although inactive in recent years, the pumps are maintained in working order in anticipation of possible flooding .

Salinity

The salinity of the lake resulting in the deposition of salt crystals in dry areas of the lake ^, . Each year, salts from the surrounding mountains are fed by river water .

Salinity, very variable, depending on water level and location of the lake. The concentration varies from 5% to 27% . In comparison, the concentration of ocean water is 3.5% . The salt composition is similar to that of sea water except that it has a little more salt potassium and a little less salt calcium .

Animal and plant species

The high salt content makes the water uninhabitable except for a few species such as brine shrimp and several algae. The population of aquatic animals is important and is essential food for many migratory birds that areas of northern and eastern lake house by the millions. The nearby marshes of the lake represent nearly 75% of the marshes of Utah . Birds dependent on this wetland include : the Phalarope Wilson , the phalarope , the American Avocet , the stilt of America , the marbled godwit , the Kentish Plover , the sandpiper d Alaska , the Long-billed Dowitcher , the tundra swan , the white pelican , the white-faced ibis , the California gull , the black-necked grebe , the peregrine falcon and bald eagle plus the many species of ducks and geese.

To protect these birds, there are many bird sanctuaries around the lake . Several islands are used by birds for nesting and access is strictly limited by the authorities .

Because of salinity, there are no fish in the lake. The only aquatic animal to survive in these waters is the brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) , present mainly in the south of the lake. Their eggs in small sizes (200 microns) are harvested in autumn and winter . They are used in Asia to feed shrimp from farms or are dried for use as feed for aquatic pets .

The difference in salinity between the North and South Lake conditions of different habitats. Of phytoplankton and algae yield a greenish hue to the south while the northern majority the alga Dunaliella salina gives a weird reddish or violet . These colors are sometimes visible on satellite images.

The island of Antelope is the place of pasture about 600 bison , of sheep , of pronghorns and coyotes. It was in 1893 that William Glassman and John Dooly brought bison on the island. Currently, to regulate the number of bison on the island park sells some of them each year and allows to hunt a limited number ^, .

Floyd, the Pink Flamingo

A Chilean flamingo loner named Pink Floyd, stayed near the Great Salt Lake. Escaped from a zoo in the city of Salt Lake City in 1987 , he lived in freedom by feeding Artemia . A group of local residents conducted a petition is released for other flamingos to keep company with Pink Floyd and also for tourism. The biologists have objected to this introduction to avoid any negative impact on the ecosystem . Pink Floyd was seen for the last time in 2005 and it is believed that it did not survive the winter 2005-2006 ^, .

Mercury content

Researchers studying the concentration of selenium in the lake have found high levels of mercury , up to 25 nanograms per liter. In comparison, a notice to stop the consumption of fish in Florida was launched after the discovery of water containing one nanogram of mercury per liter . An alert to prevent the consumption of birds such as Goldeneye tourniquet was launched ^, .

Other recent studies have shown that mercury levels were below the danger threshold and was not safe to eat birds .

Economy

The basement of the North Lake contains some deposits oil but poor quality and difficulty of extraction make the operation uneconomic at present . Nevertheless, in 1993 , approximately 3,000 barrels of oil have been collected on the shores of Lake .

Of evaporation ponds using the solar energy produce salt and brine. The minerals are harvested from the sodium chloride which is used to melt snow, potassium sulphate used as fertilizer, the magnesium chloride used to produce different products based on chlorine. Salt is not used for human consumption because the cost of purification would be too high. Private companies pay a royalty to the State of Utah, owner of Lake .

Harvesting eggs of brine shrimp a price of about 70 per kilogram is an important local industry . The industry developed initially in 1950 to serve as food for fish. In 1970 , sales were especially developed for export to feed shrimp and farmed fish . Today, eggs are mainly sold in Asia and South America . The number of eggs is highly dependent on water salinity and optimum production is around 10% salt. If the concentration decreases to 5%, eggs and harvest flow is made more difficult.

Fluctuating lake levels and pollution of water has hampered the development of tourism around the lake. In times of drought, the banks sometimes spread a smell of putrefaction. However, the lake attracts tourists still in search of beautiful scenery and nature .

Notes

Related articles

• Grove Karl Gilbert
• Bonneville Salt Flats
• Spiral Jetty

Bibliography

• (In) Morgan, Dale L. (1947). The Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ( ISBN 0-87480-478-7 )
• (In) and WR Hassible WG Keck (1993), The Great Salt Lake. U.S. Department of the Interior / U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Government Printing Office
• (In) Czerny, Peter G. (1976). The great Great Salt Lake. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press. ( ISBN 0-8425-1073-7 )
• (In) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
• (In) Deseret News
• (In) Monitoring the Weather over the Great Salt Lake. University of Utah Department of Meteorology.
• (In) West Desert Pumping Project. Utah Division of Water Resources.
• (In) Commonly Asked Questions About Utah's Great Salt Lake and Ancient Lake Bonneville. Utah Geological Survey.
• (En) Great Salt Lake: More Than Meets the Nose. CNN Travel.
• (In) Utah Museum of Fine Arts

External Links

• (En) Great Salt Lake - Detailed information on utah.com
• (In) Friends of Great Salt Lake
• (En) United States Geological Survey , Map of Lake
• (In) Observatory Lake catchment

References

• Portal United States
• Water Portal
• Utah portal