sltrib.com
Great Salt Lake • A salt-laden November fog fills the valleys of the Promontory Mountains like the crests of waves on an ocean. Thick storm clouds allow scattered streaks of sunlight, creating sliding silver bands on a water tinted red with bacteria.
Spiral Jetty in Great Salt Lake near Promontory Point, Box Elder County, Utah
Photographer: Don Clark
Great Salt Lake is likely best known for its high salinity and large size. Yet this unique lake also supports mineral and brine-shrimp industries, provides a resting place for millions of migratory birds, and reveals varied spectacular sights. Sunsets over distant islands, white beaches, and water colors ranging from blue to pink offer inspiration for artists.
Boulders of basalt, now salt-encrusted, were moved from shore by artist Robert Smithson to create Spiral Jetty in Great Salt Lake near Promontory Point, Box Elder County.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Several specialized programs comprise the UGS: Data Management, Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Information & Outreach, Geologic Mapping, Groundwater & Wetlands, and Paleontology.