![]() ![]() The area is comprised of approximately 90% common table salt. Total salt crust volume has been estimated at 147 million tons or 99 million cubic yards of salt. ![]() Near the center of the salt, the crust is almost 5 feet thick in places, with the depth tapering off to less than 1 inch as you get to the edges. Potassium and magnesium are also present in smaller concentrations. These minerals include gypsum (commercially used to make household wallboard) and halite (common table salt). When this large amount of fresh water slowly disappeared over time, large concentrations of dissolved minerals were deposited in the soils that form the watershed for the Bonneville Salt Flats. Lake Bonneville covered approximately 1/3 of Utah and was almost 1000 feet deep in the area of the Salt Flats. The photo below shows parts of the salt crust cracking and forming ruts in the mud.The formation of the Salt Flats began at the end of the last Ice Age, when the waters of ancient Lake Bonneville began to recede. If we had more time, we would’ve done sunset at the rest stop, spent the night in Wendover, and shot sunrise the next morning at the speedway. The I-80 is heavily-patrolled by Idaho State Troopers, and the speed limit is 75mph… so traffic is flying. While some people illegally use the “emergency vehicle only” U-turn options, it’s a risk. ![]() While you can easily get back on the I-80 heading east… the next closest exit you can use to turn around is half-an-hour away! So it’ll literally take an hour to get from the speedway back to the rest stop… even though “as the crow flies” it’s only four miles. ![]() If you decide to then go to the speedway site, be prepared for a long drive back around to the rest stop. If you’re driving from SLC, you’ll hit the rest stop first. The I-80 doesn’t have exits in the area which allow you to easily go between the two sites. This is important to keep in mind: if you’re aiming for sunset photos, you need to pick one of the spots ahead of time and commit. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |