This is not an alien world far from earth it is Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville Salt Flats has one of the most unique natural features ... More
This is not an alien world far from earth it is Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville Salt Flats has one of the most unique natural features in Utah: A crust of salt stretching over 30,000 acres.
The Salt Flats were formed when ancient Lake Bonneville, which once covered one-third of Utah, dried up. The Great Salt Lake is a mere remnant. Today, the flats include a variety of micro environments, including ponds and marshy areas near the edges of the flats. These spots are critical habitat for some plants and animals.
The Bonneville Salt Flats are one of Earth's most unique landforms. The salt flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide and are comprised mostly of sodium chloride, or table salt. Located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City in Tooele County, Utah, the salt flats are a 30,000 acre expanse of hard, white salt crust on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Basin in Utah. Like the Great Salt Lake, the Salt Flats are a remnant of Lake Bonneville, which covered over one-third of Utah from 10,000 to 32,000 years ago. The salt flats are on the National Register of Historic Places, are designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and are managed as a Special Recreation Management Area.
The salt flats are generally open to the public for recreational purposes. Motor vehicle use is limited by seasonal closure during the spring when the salt is moist or has standing water on the surface. Closure dates may vary and will be posted by sign.
The salt flats are used for land speed racing, archery competitions, running races, photography, videography, and scientific research projects. Public wishing to utilize the salt flats for these purposes need a special recreation or film permit from the BLM Salt Lake Field Office.
- Safety Information :
Driving on the salt flats at night or when they are wet from precipitation can be hazardous and result in your vehicle getting stuck in the mud. Be prepared with good clothing, sun screen or shade, extra food and water.
- Weather Information and Tips :
Temperatures on the salt flats often reach over 100 degrees in summer and can go below freezing in winter. Ultraviolet radiation coming off the salt can be intense - be sure to wear sunscreen and sun protective clothing. Be aware that violent winds and storms can strike at all times of year. Stay alert and aware of weather conditions at all times.
- Direction -
Directions to the Bonneville Salt Flats are simple: From Salt Lake City, hop on I-80 and head west. On your way, you’ll pass the Great Salt Lake, an 87-foot stone tree and miles and miles of mostly barren land.
The view of potash ponds in the middle against red desert is amazing.
Bright blue ponds is actually a potassium carbonate evaporative pond owned by I ... More
The view of potash ponds in the middle against red desert is amazing.
Bright blue ponds is actually a potassium carbonate evaporative pond owned by Intrepid Potash, Inc.
They have three carbonate mines in the western United States and potassium carbonate pond is best known in Moab, Utah.
Potash ponds is blue color because of blue dye that is added to salt water.
This dye increases absorption of sunlight which helps increase rate of evaporation.
Darker water absorbs more sunlight and heat so that potassium can be harvested faster and process can be restarted.
Potash ponds is not always bright blue. This process takes about 300 days and in the process, the pond becomes colorful.
You can see a bright blue color immediately after dye is added.
The pond turns brown color after almost all water evaporates, leaving potassium on the bottom of the pond for harvesting.
This harvested potassium carbonate is used to make glass, porcelain, soap, fertilizer, etc.
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