Location: The Great Salt Lake is located in the northern part of the United States in the state of Utah. It lies west of the Wasatch Mountains and north of the Salt Lake Valley.
State and Counties: The lake lies entirely within Utah and spreads across multiple counties.
Salt Lake County: Southeastern shoreline
Davis County: Eastern shoreline
Weber County: Northeastern shoreline
Tooele County: Western shoreline
Major Cities: Several major Utah cities are located near the lake.
Salt Lake City
Ogden
Layton
West Valley City
Size: It is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the largest lake in the U.S. outside the Great Lakes.
Surface Area: ~1,700 sq mi (4,400 sq km), varies by water level
Volume: ~18–20 million acre-feet (varies annually)
Maximum Length: ~75 mi (121 km)
Maximum Width: ~35 mi (56 km)
Average Depth: ~16 ft (5 m)
Maximum Depth: ~33 ft (10 m)
Shoreline: ~1,700 mi (2,735 km), including bays and islands
Formation and History: The lake is a remnant of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which existed during the last Ice Age about 14,000–30,000 years ago. As the climate warmed, Lake Bonneville shrank due to evaporation, leaving behind the Great Salt Lake. Native American tribes such as the Shoshone, Ute, and Goshute lived around the lake long before European explorers arrived in the 1800s. It later became important for mineral extraction and settlement development in Utah.
Major Rivers Feeding the Great Salt Lake: The lake is terminal (no outlet), so water leaves only through evaporation.
Bear River – Largest tributary (40–60% of the lake’s inflow)
Weber River
Jordan River
Ogden River
Other Sources: Internal springs and direct precipitation
Islands: The lake has 17 officially named islands, though their size changes with water levels.
Antelope Island – Largest island; home to Antelope Island State Park and American bison
Gunnison Island – Major nesting site for American white pelicans
Fremont Island – Third-largest; historic ranching site
Stansbury Island – Often connected to mainland during low water
Other notable islands: Carrington Island, Dolphin Island, Hat Island, Cub Island
Temperature: Surface water temperatures vary widely due to shallow depth and desert climate.
Winter: ~40–45°F (4–7°C); shallow areas may partially freeze
Summer: ~70–80°F (21–27°C); warmest in July and August
Wildlife: The lake supports a unique hypersaline ecosystem.
