Utah Lake

Utah Lake is Utah's largest fresh-water lake, and it is one of the largest naturally occurring fresh-water lakes in the western United States. Its surface area occupies 96,600 acres (390 km²). The lake dominates Utah Valley in north-central Utah, with major cities like Provo and Orem hemmed between the lake's eastern shore and the Wasatch Mountains. The lake is fed by creeks and streams as well as the Provo, Spanish Fork and American Fork rivers. Utah Lake's outlet is the Jordan River, located at the lake's north end. The Jordan River flows north to the Great Salt Lake. Connected to Utah Lake's main body are two large, shallow bays: Goshen Bay and Provo Bay.

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The lake is a remnant of pre-historic Lake Bonneville that occupied much of the western half of Utah. Despite its large surface area, Utah Lake is shallow; it has a maximum depth of 18 feet (5.5 m), and an average depth of about nine feet (3 m). The lake suffers from large seasonal algae blooms, which are compounded by industrial effluent from a now-defunct steel mill located on its eastern shore.

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Utah Lake State Park is located on the eastern shore, at the location where the Provo River empties into the lake. Activities on the lake include boating, sailing, waterskiing and fishing.

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Utah Lake's wetlands are an important stopover and nesting area for migratory birds. More than 220 species of birds use these wetland areas. Utah Lake Wetland Preserve is located at the south end of the lake, in and around Goshen Bay. An endangered fish, the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), lives naturally only in Utah Lake. During the summer of 2005, over 8,000 June suckers were released into Utah Lake from a "backup" population kept at a reservoir 45 miles (72 km) away.

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The rapidly growing population of Utah Valley threatens the future of Utah Lake. Various proposals to dike the lake's bays occasionally surface. Recent development along the lake's western shore has fueled a proposal to construct a causeway across the lake. To date, economic costs, environmental concerns, litigation and public opposition have stymied these proposals.

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Fresh-water: :For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight....

Utah Valley: Utah Valley is a valley in central Utah located in Utah County. It contains Provo, Orem, and their suburbs. Utah Lake is a natural shallow fresh water lake in its center. All rivers in the valley flow into Utah Lake, which itself empties into the Jordan River to the north....

Provo: :For the Utah city, see Provo, Utah. Provo is also a common nickname for a member of the Provisional IRA....

Utah Lake related Images and Photos (experimental)

Salt Lake City Utah USA	Main Street Salt Lake City Utah	Main Street Salt Lake City Utah	Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz Salt Lake City UT - March 3: Ty Lawson
Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz Salt Lake City UT - March 3: Al Jefferson and C.J. Miles	Alta Ski Resort Salt Lake City Utah	Utah Salt Lake City Mormon Theatre Monument in Honour of Brigham Young and the Pioneers USA	Brigham Young Monument Salt Lake City Utah
Boston Celtics v Utah Jazz Salt Lake City UT - February 28: Paul Pierce and Andrei Kirilenko	Greetings from Salt Lake City Utah	Silhouette of Male Snowboarder Flying over the Vert Salt Lake City Utah USA	Action of Ski Jumper Taking Off from the Start Ramp Salt Lake City Utah USA