Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake, the largest salt water lake in our Hemisphere, is a remnant of Lake Bonneville that used to cover most of Utah until about 14,500 years ago.  Since its only outlet is evaporation, it is saltier than seawater.  The lake is approximately 75 miles long and 35 miles wide.  It averages 33 feet deep.  It's coastline, size and depth change over time depending on weather.

In 1776 a Franciscan missionary and explorer of the Southwest, Silvestre Velez de Escalante, was the first white man to note the existence of the lake in his journals.  In 1824 Jim Bridger explored the lake.  John C. Fremont led the first scientific expedition to the lake in 1843.  Howard Stansbury, a major in the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, made the first survey of the lake in 1849.  He published his report and map in 1852.  The local Indians referred to the lake as Pi'a-pa, meaning "big water", or Ti'tsa-pa, meaning "bad water."  In 1847 when Brigham Young entered the valley and laid out the plan for their new city, he named the city Great Salt Lake City after the neighboring lake.  On January 29, 1868 the city council officially dropped the name 'Great' from the city's name.  

A contemporary map of Great Salt Lake by Justin Morris.  Used by permission.  morris.justin@gmail.com  

A major feature of the lake, Antelope Island, could be seen from nearly all the original Mormon Colonies.  

Sunsets over Antelope Island are often dramatic.