Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)

Alkaline lake in the state of Minnesota, United States

Salt Lake

Southeast shore of Salt Lake

Salt Lake

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Salt Lake

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Salt Lake

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Location| Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota and Deuel County, South Dakota
Coordinates| 44°57′53″N 96°26′40″W﻿ / ﻿44.96472°N 96.44444°W﻿ / 44.96472; -96.44444
Basin countries| United States
Surface area| 312 acres (126 ha)[1]
Surface elevation| 1,145 ft (349 m)[2]

Salt Lake is a natural lake lying between Minnesota and South Dakota in the United States.[2]

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]

## See also

[edit]

* List of lakes in Minnesota
* List of lakes in South Dakota

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Salt Lake IBA". Audubon. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Salt Lake (Minnesota–South Dakota)
3. ^ Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.2. University of South Dakota. p. 66.
4. ^ a b c Steil, Mark (15 August 2000). "Minnesota: Land of One Salt Lake". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
5. ^ a b 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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