Why does the Great Salt Lake stink? How much salt is in the lake? How does the lake affect the weather? What were Lake Bonneville's dimensions?
These are just a few of the questions many people ask about Utah's largest body of water. Their answers and many more are all found in a new publication - "Commonly Asked Questions About Utah's Great Salt Lake and Ancient Lake Bonneville."J. Wallace Gwynn of the Utah Geological Survey has written the new booklet, available for $2.25 at the UGS Bookstore, 1594 W. North Temple.
"The Great Salt Lake and ancient Lake Bonneville continue to capture the imaginations of residents and visitors," Gwynn said. "I'm constantly asked questions about our inland sea. So I compiled 27 of the questions I hear the most and provided an answer."
By the way, the answers to the above questions are: The stink comes from decaying plants and animal remains in the shallow shoreline of the lake; there are about 4.5 billion to 4.9 billion tons of salt in the lake; the lake affects the weather by increasing the moisture content of the air, resulting in more snowfall for adjacent areas; and Lake Bonneville was 325 miles long, 135 miles wide and up to 1,000 feet deep.