The Great Salt Lake, which borders the state's capital, Salt Lake City, is salty because its tributary rivers are constantly transporting small amounts of salt dissolved from the surrounding rocks in their water. The lake is one of the top Utah points of interest.

Once the water comes to the Great Salt Lake, the water evaporates in heat, leaving the salt behind. Additionally, the lake does not have any outlets to let some of the salty water out.

The lake is 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, and it is spread over a number of flat basins. It is all that remains from the last ice age lake, Lake Bonneville.

Reminders of the ancient lake can be seen in the terraces etched into the former lake’s shoreline. The climate change brought the ancient lake’s level to that of today’s Salt Lake.

The lake is too salty for fish, and only some algae and brine shrimp can live in it.


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