Spotted Lake — Osoyoos, Canada
Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of
Osoyoos in British Columbia in Canada. It is located near the city of
Osoyoos, beside Highway 3, near the U.S. border, Spotted Lake is known
for its “leopard” landscapes. Local water saturated with mineral salts,
has a huge concentration of magnesium sulfate, calcium, sodium, silver
and titanium. Due to the high density of minerals in the water body can
only survive microorganisms, fish is not found. Such natural anomaly and
is the cause of colored tanks. Most saturated colors typical for the
summer months when the spot formed on the surface of the lake, painted
in yellow and green colors. At other times, the predominant color is
graphite gray.
According to legend, Spotted Lake stop a long war between the tribes of
Canadian Indians Okanagan. While crossing his warriors mineral water
washed their wounds, which immediately healed. Healing properties of
reservoir reminded Indians that it makes no sense to wound, which is so
easy to be tightened – and the peace talks have replaced the decisive
bloody battle. Now near the lake in nearby Osoyoos, lives the same name
Indian community.
With the onset of the summer season almost
mineral water cures, allowing walks through spotted lake. However, due
to the fact that the formal pond is a privately owned Canadian Indians,
tourists access to the surface is prohibited, and the boundaries are
surrounded by barbed wire. To monitor the natural anomaly near the
highway is built special viewing platform and placarded. Theoretically,
for a stroll on the mineral formations can get a special permit issued
by the local tribal elder, but in practice such aspirations rarely
crowned with success.
Mineral and salt concentration — Spotted Lake is very highly
concentrated with numerous different minerals. It contains some of the
highest quantities (in the world) of magnesium sulfate, calcium and
sodium sulphates. It also contains extremely high concentrations of
eight other minerals as well as some small doses of four others such as
silver and titanium.
Most of the water in the lake evaporates over the summer, leaving behind
all the minerals. Large “spots” on the lake appear and depending on the
mineral composition at the time, the spots will be different colors.
The spots are made mainly of magnesium sulfate, which crystallizes in
the summer. In the summer only the minerals in the lake remain, and they
harden to form natural “walkways” around and between the spots.
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