Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)
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. It is the only alkaline lake in Minnesota and its water is approximately one-third the salinity of sea water. Salt grasses grow along the shore and in the lake's water.
The site is one of the most popular birdwatching sites in Minnesota. One hundred and forty one different species of birds have been identified by birders in the vicinity of the lake. Sago pondweed and brine shrimp in the lake attract large flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds. Frequently seen birds at Salt Lake include avocets, willets and ducks such as the canvasback, gadwall, and shoveler.
Like other prairie basin lakes, Salt Lake has dry and wet cycles in which the lake will periodically dry out completely. During dry years, exposed wetland mud flats are streaked in white layers of salt.
See also
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.
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