The Changing Bonneville Salt Flats (PI-106)

By: Jeremiah Bernau

The Bonneville Salt Flats in western Utah are renowned worldwide for hosting land-speed racing events. They are easily accessible from Interstate 80 and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This distinct landscape spans approximately 5 miles wide by 12 miles long, featuring a smooth, hard salt crust that draws thousands of visitors each year. Both passers-by and enthusiasts find recreation here, attracted by a unique landscape and rich history. In 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party faced significant delays while traversing this challenging terrain. Since 1920, the brines beneath the flats have been a valuable source of potash, a crucial plant fertilizer. The Bonneville Salt Flats are an internationally important land-speed racing and motorsports location. Since 1914, numerous land-speed records have been set and broken here, including a world speed record of 622.4 miles per hour in 1970. Recognizing its significance, the Bonneville Salt Flats speedway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Classified as a Special Recreation Management Area and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern since 1985, the salt flats offer diverse recreational opportunities. Additionally, you may recognize

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Published: 2023
Pages: 4
Location: Utah