GREAT SALT LAKE, a body of water in the northwestern part of Utah, the principal drainage centre of the Great Basin (q.v.) ; bounded on the east by the Wasatch Moun tains, on the west by the Great Salt Lake Desert. It is about 4,200 feet above sea-level, 80 miles long and from 20 to 32 miles wide. Its chief inlets are the Bear, Ogden and Weber, and the Jordan which brings the fresh waters of Lake Utah. Great Salt Lake has no apparent outlet save evaporation. In 1850 the amount of saline matter held in solution was 22.4 per cent, in 1869 only 14.8 per cent. Be tween these dates the amount of water flowing in annually exceeded the evaporation, and the lake increased in area from 1,700 to 2,360 square miles. Since 1869-70 the lake has been receding. One cause of the water diminishing in volume is the amount used for irrigation; but the amount of water contributed by the inlets has decreased since 1870. At one time Great Salt Lake was much larger than it is now. The bars, cliffs_ and beaches formed by the waters of the ancient lake (called Lake Bonneville) are plainly visible along the base of the mountains. Lake Bonneville had an area of 19,800 square miles and a depth of 1,100 feet. Its depth near where the great Mormon Temple now is was about 850 feet. Its dry bed is now occupied by nearly 200,000 people. The
waters of Lake Bonneville reached the ocean through Columbia River. Geological investiga tions show that there have been at least two moist periods with intervening and subsequent periods of dryness. A change from the present dry climate and scant rainfall to a moist climate would result in a great increase in area of the waters in the lakes and rivers and a return to former water areas. Great Salt Lake has several islands, the largest of which, Antelope, is 18 miles long. No fishes seem to exist,. but several species of insects and brine-shrimps have been found in the waters; and water fowls in large numbers frequent the shore. The first mention of Great Salt Lake appeared in a report made by the Franciscans, in 1776. Father Escalante and companions seem to have traveled from Mexico to this region. A report made also by the Franciscans early in the 17th century mentions the large rivers and lakes and the mineral wealth of this section. In 1843 Fremont explored and described this region, and a thorough survey was made in 1849-59 by Howard Stansbury, captain in the United States Army. (See UTAH ). Consult 'Jesuit Relations) ,• Bancroft, United States Reports and Surveys.