The Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake, located in Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. It has no natural outlet, so water from rivers flows in but eventually evaporates, leaving behind high concentrations of salt and minerals. This creates a hyper-saline environment that supports unique microorganisms and brine shrimp. The lake’s size varies with rainfall and evaporation rates, and it plays a crucial ecological and economic role, supporting industries like mineral extraction and providing habitat for migrating birds. Its striking, salty waters and vast, reflective surfaces make it a significant natural feature of the American West.