Bonneville Salt Flats

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Reed Museum in Grantsville. in Museum Reed The stratified layers that form the Salt Flats are almost five feet thick thick feet five almost are Flats Salt the form that layers stratified The

emigrants that crossed the trail, are on display in the Donner- the in display on are trail, the crossed that emigrants changing salt crust conditions throughout each year. each throughout conditions crust salt changing

thin salt crust. Artifacts from the Donner-Reed Party, and other other and Party, Donner-Reed the from Artifacts crust. salt thin periodic rainstorms, and regional climate also play an important part in in part important an play also climate regional and rainstorms, periodic

the Salt Flats. Their wagons became mired in mud just below the the below just mud in mired became wagons Their Flats. Salt the the heat, and minerals are left behind to form new salt crust. Wind, Wind, crust. salt new form to behind left are minerals and heat, the

experienced while crossing crossing while experienced water rapidly evaporates in in evaporates rapidly water

the delay the emigrants emigrants the delay the spring and summer, the salty salty the summer, and spring

Relative distances and locations on this map are approximate and are not to scale. to not are and approximate are map this on locations and distances Relative

the Sierra Mountains was was Mountains Sierra the temperatures rise in late late in rise temperatures

infamous winter survival in in survival winter infamous several inches deep. When When deep. inches several

contributed to the party’s party’s the to contributed Today’s Great Salt Lake Salt Great Today’s ter floods the Salt Flats Flats Salt the floods ter

Reed Party of 1846. What What 1846. of Party Reed - groundwa this May), to

opposite for the Donner- the for opposite cooler months (November (November months cooler

Ancient Lake Bonneville Lake Ancient A D VA E N

Cutoff proved to be just the the just be to proved Cutoff Salt Flats’ surface. During During surface. Flats’ Salt

route to California, Hastings Hastings California, to route percolates upward to the the to upward percolates Milford

Hastings as a faster, easier easier faster, a as Hastings minerals along the way, and and way, the along minerals

O D A R O L O C

Promoted by Lansford Lansford by Promoted tershed, picks up dissolved dissolved up picks tershed,

part of the California Trail. Trail. California the of part - wa surrounding the from in

the Hastings Cutoff as as Cutoff Hastings the shallow groundwater flows flows groundwater shallow H A T U

would become known as as known become would proximately 90% salt. Today, Today, salt. 90% proximately

route across the Salt Flats Flats Salt the across route - ap of comprised are Flats

The next year Fremont’s Fremont’s year next The halite (table salt). The Salt Salt The salt). (table halite

Salt Flats Salt

route to the Pacific Ocean. Ocean. Pacific the to route cially used as fertilizer, and and fertilizer, as used cially Provo

Bonneville

Tooele to find a shorter overland overland shorter a find to - commer is which potash,

the Salt Flats in 1845 while trying trying while 1845 in Flats Salt the

major motion pictures, fashion layouts, and automobile commercials. automobile and layouts, fashion pictures, motion major soils. These minerals include include minerals These soils.

Salt Lake City Lake Salt Wendover

expedition crossed the heart of of heart the crossed expedition are also internationally renowned as a unique backdrop for filming filming for backdrop unique a as renowned internationally also are deposited in surrounding surrounding in deposited

his U.S. government-sponsored government-sponsored U.S. his Salt Flats also host a variety of other events every year. The Salt Flats Flats Salt The year. every events other of variety a host also Flats Salt tions of dissolved minerals minerals dissolved of tions

Ogden

in 1827. John C. Fremont and and Fremont C. John 1827. in mph, set by Gary Gabolich in 1970 in his “Blue Flame” rocket car. The The car. rocket Flame” “Blue his in 1970 in Gabolich Gary by set mph, - concentra large left tion

from an expedition to California California to expedition an from spectators. The fastest recorded speed on the Salt Flats is 622.407 622.407 is Flats Salt the on speed recorded fastest The spectators. - evapora receded, Bonneville

G N I M O Y W Flats while returning to Utah Utah to returning while Flats Logan transform the Salt Flats into a magnet for land-speed drivers and and drivers land-speed for magnet a into Flats Salt the transform Island Mountains. As Lake Lake As Mountains. Island

Jedediah Smith crossed the Salt Salt the crossed Smith Jedediah Week,” September’s “World of Speed” and October’s “World Finals,” Finals,” “World October’s and Speed” of “World September’s Week,” sides of the nearby Silver Silver nearby the of sides

O H A D I frontiersman and Trapper r ecords in different vehicle classes. Events such as August’s “Speed “Speed August’s as such Events classes. vehicle different in ecords and escarpments on the the on escarpments and

Recent human history human Recent and amateur teams from around the world compete for land-speed land-speed for compete world the around from teams amateur and is seen as horizontal terraces terraces horizontal as seen is

has grown enormously. Every summer and early fall, professional professional fall, early and summer Every enormously. grown has Evidence of this great depth depth great this of Evidence

141.73 mph in 1914. Since then land-speed racing on the Salt Flats Flats Salt the on racing land-speed then Since 1914. in mph 141.73 the water exceeded 1,000 feet deep over the Bonneville Salt Flats. Flats. Salt Bonneville the over deep feet 1,000 exceeded water the $250,000 and five years imprisonment for violators. for imprisonment years five and $250,000

when Teddy Tetzlaff drove a Blitzen Benz to an unofficial speed of of speed unofficial an to Benz Blitzen a drove Tetzlaff Teddy when Bonneville was at its highest level approximately 17,000 years ago, ago, years 17,000 approximately level highest its at was Bonneville Archaeological Resources Protection Act provides penalties up to to up penalties provides Act Protection Resources Archaeological

Flats’ global renown. The Salt Flats were mostly a local fascination fascination local a mostly were Flats Salt The renown. global Flats’ How did the Bonneville Salt Flats form? Flats Salt Bonneville the did How When Lake Lake When by archaeologists. Digging or disturbing historical sites is illegal. The The illegal. is sites historical disturbing or Digging archaeologists. by

endurance and land speed racing are perhaps responsible for the Salt Salt the for responsible perhaps are racing speed land and endurance water and food? These questions have only been partially answered answered partially been only have questions These food? and water

What happens on the Salt Flats today? Flats Salt the on happens What Automotive Automotive visitors each year. each visitors Bonneville was receding at the time, did it provide them with fresh fresh with them provide it did time, the at receding was Bonneville

to preserve and protect, the Bonneville Salt Flats attract thousands of of thousands attract Flats Salt Bonneville the protect, and preserve to reliable food sources were in the area to sustain them? Although Lake Lake Although them? sustain to area the in were sources food reliable

Concern” because of their geology, history and scenic beauty. A place place A beauty. scenic and history geology, their of because Concern” Cave. Where did these people come from? How did they live? What What live? they did How from? come people these did Where Cave.

Critical Environmental Environmental Critical humans lived there more than 10,000 years ago at nearby Danger Danger nearby at ago years 10,000 than more there lived humans

Salt Flats? Salt

nated as an “Area of of “Area an as nated Early human history history human Early Researchers have determined that primitive primitive that determined have Researchers

- desig are and Places,

Bonneville Register of Historic Historic of Register or Great Salt Lake. Salt Great or

are on the National National the on are known historical record of Bonneville himself ever seeing the Salt Flats Flats Salt the seeing ever himself Bonneville of record historical known

Management. They They Management.

that the Salt Flats and Lake Bonneville derive their name. There is no no is There name. their derive Bonneville Lake and Flats Salt the that

the are What

the Bureau of Land Land of Bureau the significant landmarks after their employers. It is from Capt. Bonneville Bonneville Capt. from is It employers. their after landmarks significant

Flats are managed by by managed are Flats L.E. Bonneville. At that time it was common for people to name name to people for common was it time that At Bonneville. L.E.

years ago. The Salt Salt The ago. years northern perimeter of the Salt Fla Salt the of perimeter northern Benjamin Capt. for working while ts

which covered over one-third of Utah from about 32,000 to 10,000 10,000 to 32,000 about from Utah of one-third over covered which R. Walker mapped around the Great Salt Lake. He also crossed the the crossed also He Lake. Salt Great the around mapped Walker R.

Lake, the Salt Flats are a remnant of ancient Ice Age Lake Bonneville, Bonneville, Lake Age Ice ancient of remnant a are Flats Salt the Lake, Where did the name come from? come name the did Where In 1833, explorer Joseph Joseph explorer 1833, In

comprised mostly of sodium chloride, or table salt. Like the Great Salt Salt Great the Like salt. table or chloride, sodium of mostly comprised

the Salt Flats are about five miles wide and 12 miles long. They are are They long. miles 12 and wide miles five about are Flats Salt the equates to about 147 million tons, or 99 million cubic yards, of salt. of yards, cubic million 99 or tons, million 147 about to equates

forms. Located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City in Tooele County, Utah, Utah, County, Tooele in City Lake Salt of west miles 120 Located forms. Flats are just over 46 square miles in size (30,000 acres), which which acres), (30,000 size in miles square 46 over just are Flats

The

- land unique most Earth’s of one are Flats Salt Bonneville near the center and only an inch or two at the outer edges. The Salt The edges. outer the at two or inch an only and center the near BLM What is the weather like on the Salt Flats? Daytime Frequently asked questions temperatures can range from below freezing in winter to triple digits in summer. Strong winds and thunderstorms often occur Bonneville Where are the Bonneville Salt Flats? The Salt Flats are during warm weather months. UV radiation can be intense on located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, Utah just off of Interstate hot summer days. Visitors need to come prepared with protective 80 before the state border at Wendover, Utah. The paved access clothing and plenty of water. Dehydration and heat exhaustion are Salt Flats road leading to the Salt Flats is reached by taking Exit 4 off I-80. dangers in the summer. From there drive north toward the Silver Island Mountains. The What facilities are available? There are no facilities avail- Tooele County, Utah paved road turns right and heads due east for three miles. A cul- able on the Salt Flats. There are no surface improvements or signs de-sac is at the end of the road. Travel on the Salt Flats is at your on the Salt Flats after the paved access road ends. Food, fuel, own risk and is only recommended when the surface is entirely dry. lodging and other services are available at Exit 4 or in the nearby Can anyone drive on the Salt Flats? No person may town of Wendover. operate an off-road vehicle on public lands without a valid State Is overnight camping available? Overnight camping, fires driver’s license or learner’s permit. The Salt Flats are free to visit and fireworks are prohibited on the Salt Flats to maintain public and open to the public most of the year. During permitted events health and safety, and to protect natural resources. There are no fees may be required and special security restrictions may be developed campground facilities. Free camping is available on mandatory to maintain public safety. adjacent public lands. During events participants camp on the mud Is it safe to drive on the Salt Flats? If you drive on the Salt flats next to the Salt Flats access road. Flats you are on your own. Let someone know where you are and What do I need to know about attending events when you plan to return. Review and adhere to the Bonneville Salt on the Salt Flats? The public can gain access by paying an Flats Travel Advisory, which is available at www.blm.gov/ut. When entrance fee and following route markers to designated viewing the Salt Flats are dry, the surface is generally safe to drive upon. areas. Reservations for spectators are not required. Bicycles, motor- However, avoid driving along the edge of the salt crust as your vehicle cycles and ATVs are permitted on the Salt Flats. may become suddenly stuck in underlying mud. Getting stuck on A permit or entrance fee is not the Salt Flats is hazardous and has resulted in fatalities. Salt residue When do I need a permit? required to take personal photos, view the area, or drive on the is corrosive and should be washed off of vehicles. The Salt Flats salt except during special events. Organized group permits and should not be driven upon when they are submerged in water. commercial filming permits are required and may be obtained from the Bureau of Land Management Salt Lake Field Office. Can you see the curvature of the earth? The Bonneville Salt Flats are one of seven locations around the world where the curvature of the earth is purportedly visible to the naked eye.

For additional information please refer to the Bureau of Land Management website: www.blm.gov/ut For additional information please refer to the Tooele County website: www.co.tooele.ut.us

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Reed Museum in Grantsville. in Museum Reed The stratified layers that form the Salt Flats are almost five feet thick thick feet five almost are Flats Salt the form that layers stratified The

experienced while crossing crossing while experienced water rapidly evaporates in in evaporates rapidly water

the delay the emigrants emigrants the delay the spring and summer, the salty salty the summer, and spring

Relative distances and locations on this map are approximate and are not to scale. to not are and approximate are map this on locations and distances Relative

the Sierra Mountains was was Mountains Sierra the temperatures rise in late late in rise temperatures

infamous winter survival in in survival winter infamous several inches deep. When When deep. inches several

contributed to the party’s party’s the to contributed Today’s Great Salt Lake Salt Great Today’s ter floods the Salt Flats Flats Salt the floods ter

Reed Party of 1846. What What 1846. of Party Reed to May), this groundwa- this May), to

opposite for the Donner- the for opposite cooler months (November (November months cooler

Ancient Lake Bonneville Lake Ancient A D VA E N

Cutoff proved to be just the the just be to proved Cutoff Salt Flats’ surface. During During surface. Flats’ Salt

route to California, Hastings Hastings California, to route percolates upward to the the to upward percolates Milford

Hastings as a faster, easier easier faster, a as Hastings minerals along the way, and and way, the along minerals

O D A R O L O C

Promoted by Lansford Lansford by Promoted tershed, picks up dissolved dissolved up picks tershed,

part of the California Trail. Trail. California the of part in from the surrounding wa- surrounding the from in

the Hastings Cutoff as as Cutoff Hastings the shallow groundwater flows flows groundwater shallow H A T U

would become known as as known become would proximately 90% salt. Today, Today, salt. 90% proximately

route across the Salt Flats Flats Salt the across route Flats are comprised of ap- of comprised are Flats

The next year Fremont’s Fremont’s year next The halite (table salt). The Salt Salt The salt). (table halite

Salt Flats Salt

route to the Pacific Ocean. Ocean. Pacific the to route cially used as fertilizer, and and fertilizer, as used cially Provo

Bonneville

Tooele to find a shorter overland overland shorter a find to potash, which is commer- is which potash,

the Salt Flats in 1845 while trying trying while 1845 in Flats Salt the

major motion pictures, fashion layouts, and automobile commercials. automobile and layouts, fashion pictures, motion major soils. These minerals include include minerals These soils.

Salt Lake City Lake Salt Wendover

Ogden

O H A D I Trapper and frontiersman frontiersman and Trapper r ecords in different vehicle classes. Events such as August’s “Speed “Speed August’s as such Events classes. vehicle different in ecords and escarpments on the the on escarpments and

has grown enormously. Every summer and early fall, professional professional fall, early and summer Every enormously. grown has Evidence of this great depth depth great this of Evidence

Critical Environmental Environmental Critical humans lived there more than 10,000 years ago at nearby Danger Danger nearby at ago years 10,000 than more there lived humans

Salt Flats? Salt

nated as an “Area of of “Area an as nated Early human history history human Early Researchers have determined that primitive primitive that determined have Researchers

Places , and are desig- are and ,

Bonneville Bonneville Register of Historic Historic of Register or Great Salt Lake. Salt Great or

are on the National the on are known historical record of Bonneville himself ever seeing the Salt Flats Flats Salt the seeing ever himself Bonneville of record historical known

Management. hey T that the Salt Flats and Lake Bonneville derive their name. There is no no is There name. their derive Bonneville Lake and Flats Salt the that

What are the the are What

the Bureau of Land Land of Bureau the . It is from Capt. Bonneville Bonneville Capt. from is It . employers their after landmarks significant

Flats are managed by managed are Flats as common for people to name to people for common as w it time that At Bonneville. L.E.

years ago. The Salt Salt The ago. years ts while working for Capt. Benjamin Capt. for working while ts Fla Salt the of perimeter northern

which covered over one-third of Utah from about 32,000 to 10,000 10,000 to 32,000 about from Utah of one-third over covered which He also crossed the crossed also He Lake. Salt Great the around mapped Walker R.

comprised mostly of sodium chloride, or table salt. Like the Great Salt Salt Great the Like salt. table or chloride, sodium of mostly comprised

The

Bonneville Salt Flats are one of Earth’s most unique land- unique most Earth’s of one are Flats Salt Bonneville near the center and only an inch or two at the outer edges. The Salt The edges. outer the at two or inch an only and center the near BLM What is the weather like on the Salt Flats? Daytime Frequently asked questions temperatures can range from below freezing in winter to triple digits in summer. Strong winds and thunderstorms often occur Bonneville Where are the Bonneville Salt Flats? The Salt Flats are during warm weather months. UV radiation can be intense on located 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, Utah just off of Interstate hot summer days. Visitors need to come prepared with protective 80 before the state border at Wendover, Utah. The paved access clothing and plenty of water. Dehydration and heat exhaustion are Salt Flats road leading to the Salt Flats is reached by taking Exit 4 off I-80. dangers in the summer. From there drive north toward the Silver Island Mountains. The What facilities are available? There are no facilities avail- Tooele County, Utah paved road turns right and heads due east for three miles. A cul- able on the Salt Flats. There are no surface improvements or signs de-sac is at the end of the road. Travel on the Salt Flats is at your on the Salt Flats after the paved access road ends. Food, fuel, own risk and is only recommended when the surface is entirely dry. lodging and other services are available at Exit 4 or in the nearby Can anyone drive on the Salt Flats? No person may town of Wendover. operate an off-road vehicle on public lands without a valid State Is overnight camping available? Overnight camping, fires driver’s license or learner’s permit. The Salt Flats are free to visit and fireworks are prohibited on the Salt Flats to maintain public and open to the public most of the year. During permitted events health and safety, and to protect natural resources. There are no fees may be required and special security restrictions may be developed campground facilities. Free camping is available on mandatory to maintain public safety. adjacent public lands. During events participants camp on the mud Is it safe to drive on the Salt Flats? If you drive on the Salt flats next to the Salt Flats access road. Flats you are on your own. Let someone know where you are and What do I need to know about attending events when you plan to return. Review and adhere to the Bonneville Salt on the Salt Flats? The public can gain access by paying an Flats Travel Advisory, which is available at www.blm.gov/ut. When entrance fee and following route markers to designated viewing the Salt Flats are dry, the surface is generally safe to drive upon. areas. Reservations for spectators are not required. Bicycles, motor- However, avoid driving along the edge of the salt crust as your vehicle cycles and ATVs are permitted on the Salt Flats. may become suddenly stuck in underlying mud. Getting stuck on A permit or entrance fee is not the Salt Flats is hazardous and has resulted in fatalities. Salt residue When do I need a permit? required to take personal photos, view the area, or drive on the is corrosive and should be washed off of vehicles. The Salt Flats salt except during special events. Organized group permits and should not be driven upon when they are submerged in water. commercial filming permits are required and may be obtained from the Bureau of Land Management Salt Lake Field Office. Can you see the curvature of the earth? The Bonneville Salt Flats are one of seven locations around the world where the curvature of the earth is purportedly visible to the naked eye.

For additional information please refer to the Bureau of Land Management website: www.blm.gov/ut For additional information please refer to the Tooele County website: www.co.tooele.ut.us

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