Lake Bonneville Salty Remnants Earthcache EarthCache
Lake Bonneville Salty Remnants Earthcache
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This earthcache is located west of Salt Lake City on I-80 WESTBOUND, about 10 miles east of Wendover, NV. This is one of the most accessible points to the salty flats that cover much of the area between here and Salt Lake City.
It is harder to find the answers to the logging requirements at the I-80 eastbound rest area about ¼ mile away, (because the Railroad track eliminates a lot of the view) though it IS possible.
Geology: This area, now known as the Bonneville Salt Flats (and to the east the Great Salt Lake), was once part of a much larger area named Lake Bonneville. Lake Bonneville spanned most of western Utah and part of Idaho and Nevada. Around the area (including from this location) you can see the “high water lines” for two of the major high points for Lake Bonneville. The current Great Salt Lake is only about 30 feet deep, and as you notice from this location, there is NO water left (the case for the MAJORITY of the area once covered by Lake Bonneville). However, the original level was MUCH deeper, about 1000 feet deep, and another easily viewable highwater point was also a deep 550 feet deep. At its maximum height, Lake Bonneville was about the size of Lake Michigan, though it had the water capacity nearer that of Lake Superior. This highwater line is called the Bonneville Bench. In order, the shorelines are called the Stansbury, The Bonneville, the Provo, and the Gilbert shorelines.
Historically, Lake Bonneville was an ice age pluvial lake – that is, one that is greatly influenced by increased precipitation, yet has a small or absent “outflow” thus creating broad plains once it evaporates or disseminates, you see an example of this type of plain in front of you, to the north (and south) of the Interstate. Lake Bonneville probably formed because the climate was more temperate, offering greater precipitation, lessened evaporation, and milder summers than it does currently. Some scientists believe that Lake Bonneville evaporated and reformed up to as many as 28 times through history.
The “shelves” you see on the hills around you show you the major high-water levels of the old shoreline. You will need to note how many shelves you can see from this vantage point for logging this cache (see below).
What caused the lake to become the shallow “shadow” of its old self and leave large parts of its former area simply salty flats? Some scientists believe that Bonneville Lake once reached all the way to Red Rock Pass in Idaho, and somehow (flooding?) washed away the natural dame that had formed there. This overflow lowered the lake to the Provo level. You can identify the Provo Level when you hike around the area by the Tuffa formations visible at that shelf.
The Stansbury line is visible at higher elevations, where mountains exceed 5200’ above sea level. The Gilbert line is the hardest to see and in many places is below the current water level (at the Great Salt Lake to the east), though it is visible on several islands in late summer.
NOTE: Though many persons find it fun to collect salt samples from this location, doing so is NOT encouraged and is NOT required in order to complete the requirements for this honor.
Congrads to cypolusa for the FTF (First to complete logging reqs)
Logging Requirements:
Send the answers to #1-#3 to me through my geocaching profile (Since the advent of the "new" Message the Owner feature, I prefer messages through that venue).
1. Look across the lake and list which high water lines described above you believe are readily visible on the hills surrounding the lakebed. Defend your reasons.
2. Walk onto the flats. Reach down and touch the white salt. Describe the texture and grain size. Compare this description to that of table salt.
3. (NO LONGER REQUIRED BY GEOCACHING.COM!) Post with your log: Take a picture with the salt flats behind you and your GPS.
I will only respond if you have incomplete logging requirements. Go ahead and log your cache
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