Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)
Salt Lake is a natural lake lying between Minnesota and South Dakota in the United States.[2]
| Salt Lake | |
|---|---|
 Southeast shore of Salt Lake | |
  Salt Lake  Salt Lake  Salt Lake | |
| Location | Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota and Deuel County, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 44°57′53″N 96°26′40″W |
| Surface area | 312 acres (126 ha)[1] |
Salt Lake received its name due to the naturally occurring salt at the lake shore, a by-product of the alkaline soils which surround the lake.[3][4] It is the only alkaline lake in Minnesota and its water is approximately one-third the salinity of sea water.[1] Salt grasses grow along the shore and in the lake's water.[4]
The site is one of the most popular birdwatching sites in Minnesota.[1] One hundred and forty one different species of birds have been identified by birders in the vicinity of the lake.[1] Sago pondweed and brine shrimp in the lake attract large flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds.[1] Frequently seen birds at Salt Lake include avocets, willets and ducks such as the canvasback, gadwall, and shoveler.[4]
Like other prairie basin lakes, Salt Lake has dry and wet cycles in which the lake will periodically dry out completely.[5] During dry years, exposed wetland mud flats are streaked in white layers of salt.[5]
References
- "Salt Lake IBA". Audubon. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)
- Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.2. University of South Dakota. p. 66.
- Steil, Mark (15 August 2000). "Minnesota: Land of One Salt Lake". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- McCormick, Tori (8 March 2018). "Where spring migration rules: Head to Salt Lake in Lac qui Parle County". Star Tribune. Retrieved 26 April 2020.