Industry and Recreation | Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake contributes significantly to Utah’s economy and provides over 7,000 jobs. It also contributes 5-10% to the lake effect snow that supports the ski industry, which includes another 20,000 jobs and $1.2 billion annually. The vast open space provided by the Great Salt Lake is critical to the readiness of Hill Air Force Base, providing an essential corridor for flight training operations.

People enjoy a variety of recreational activities on and around the lake, including sailing, wildlife watching, hiking, and biking. Antelope Island State Park is home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep and many other desert animals and also offers camping, archery, hiking, biking and more. Visit the links below to learn more about the industries and recreational opportunities that the Great Salt Lake provides.

Economy

Magnesium

U.S. Magnesium produces all the primary magnesium in the U.S. and 14% of the world's supply, which is used in beverage cans, aircraft, computers, car parts, stadium benches and more.

Sulfate of Potash

Compass Minerals produces sulfate of potash, a specialty fertilizer for high-value crops like nuts and fruit. It’s the largest sulfate of potash producer in the world.

Salt

Morton Salt and Cargill are the largest salt producers on the Great Salt Lake. They produce industrial-grade salt from large evaporation ponds on the lakebed.

Lithium

Lithium is produced from mineral-rich lake waters and is used for batteries in cell phones, laptops and electric vehicles.

Brine Shrimp

The Great Salt Lake Artemia provides 40% of the world’s brine shrimp eggs, which are used as food for aquaculture, which is the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals.

Skiing

The lake contributes 5-10% to Utah’s famous snow and extends the ski season by 5 to 7 weeks. The ski industry includes 20,000 jobs and contributes an additional $1.2 billion each year to the state’s economy.

Railroad

Union Pacific’s rock-fill railroad causeway stretches 20 miles across the Great Salt Lake. It was built in 1902 to shorten rail transit and divides the lake into a hypersaline north arm and a slightly less salty south arm.

Recreation

Antelope Island State Park

Antelope Island State Park is home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn (antelope) and many other desert animals. Millions of birds congregate along the shores surrounding the island, offering unparalleled opportunities for birding.

Great Salt Lake State Park

Great Salt Lake State Park is a gateway to the Great Salt Lake, with opportunities for boating, birding, kayaking, biking and viewing the lake. Low levels have impacted the boat launch, but visitors can enjoy the observation deck, beach, visitor center, gift shop and campground.

Fremont Island

Fremont Island is the third-largest island in the Great Salt Lake, behind Stansbury and Antelope Islands, spanning about 3,000 acres (depending on water level).

Spiral Jetty

Spiral Jetty is an earthwork sculpture constructed in April 1970 that is considered to be the most important work of American sculptor Robert Smithson.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is epic at the Great Salt Lake as visitors come to watch the millions of migratory birds that rely on the lake and surrounding wetlands.

Waterfowl Hunting

Good public access, habitat that enables a wide variety of hunting styles and extensive marshland that attracts a variety of waterfowl make the Great Salt Lake a great place for waterfowl hunting.

Education Center

Visit the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center at Farmington Bay to learn more about the remarkable Great Salt Lake wetlands and the variety of wildlife that depend on it.