Great Salt Lake Hydromapper
Half-meter topobathymetric elevation model and elevation-area-volume tables for Great Salt Lake, Utah, 2002-2016
Great Salt Lake is unique among lakes in the Western Hemisphere because of its size and salt content. It occupies a low part of the desert area of western Utah and is a terminal lake with no outlet to the sea.
It varies considerably in size, depending on its surface elevation. At an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level, the approximate historical average, it covers about 1, 700 square miles and contains about 16 million acre-feet of water, where an acre-foot is the quantity of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot deep or about 326,000 gallons.
The Rise and Fall of Great Salt Lake
On June 3,1986, the southern arm of Great Salt Lake reached a historic high water surface elevation of 4,211.60 feet (above NGVD 1929), after several years of greater-than-average precipitation. A record-breaking rise of 5.2 feet of the surface water level occurred from September 18, 1982, to June 30, 1983.
On November 7, 2022, the southern arm of the lake had receded to a record low water surface elevation of 4,188.5 feet (above NGVD 1929), after years of much lower-than-average precipitation.
Landsat Images
Dramatic changes in elevation and area of the south arm are observed in these 1986 and 2022 images at near-historic high and low levels. Use the slider to see more of either. (If using a mobile device, click "Download Images" to view as a separate page.)
Great Salt Lake Elevations
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been collecting water-surface-elevation data from Great Salt Lake since 1875 and continuously since October 1902. By combining USGS data with other data sources, a water-surface elevation record dating back to 1847 is associated with USGS Station 10010000, a gage in the Saltair Boat Harbor, at the southern end of the lake.
The Union Pacific Railroad causeway completed in 1959, essentially divides the lake into two parts. The water-surface elevation of the south part of the lake is usually higher than that of the north part because most of the inflow to the lake is in the south part. The north part of the lake has been monitored since April 1966 via USGS Station 10010100, located northwest of Saline, Utah.
Go to elevation gages from links below to see current conditions.
Saltair Boat Harbor Elevation Gage (10010000)
South Side of Causeway Elevation Gage (10010024)
North Arm Elevation Gage near Saline, Utah (10010100)
Great Salt Lake Bathymetry and Surface Area-Volume Estimates
Half-meter topobathymetric elevation model and elevation-area-volume tables for Great Salt Lake, Utah, 2002-2016
Bathymetric maps and area-volume tables associated with the original surveys in the early 2000's of the north and south parts of Great Salt Lake are available from the following links.
Bathymetry of North Arm
Area and Volume of the North Arm
Bathymetry of South Arm
Area and Volume of South Arm
Great Salt Lake is unique among lakes in the Western Hemisphere because of its size and salt content. It occupies a low part of the desert area of western Utah and is a terminal lake with no outlet to the sea.
It varies considerably in size, depending on its surface elevation. At an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level, the approximate historical average, it covers about 1, 700 square miles and contains about 16 million acre-feet of water, where an acre-foot is the quantity of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot deep or about 326,000 gallons.
The Rise and Fall of Great Salt Lake
On June 3,1986, the southern arm of Great Salt Lake reached a historic high water surface elevation of 4,211.60 feet (above NGVD 1929), after several years of greater-than-average precipitation. A record-breaking rise of 5.2 feet of the surface water level occurred from September 18, 1982, to June 30, 1983.
On November 7, 2022, the southern arm of the lake had receded to a record low water surface elevation of 4,188.5 feet (above NGVD 1929), after years of much lower-than-average precipitation.
Landsat Images
Dramatic changes in elevation and area of the south arm are observed in these 1986 and 2022 images at near-historic high and low levels. Use the slider to see more of either. (If using a mobile device, click "Download Images" to view as a separate page.)
Great Salt Lake Elevations
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been collecting water-surface-elevation data from Great Salt Lake since 1875 and continuously since October 1902. By combining USGS data with other data sources, a water-surface elevation record dating back to 1847 is associated with USGS Station 10010000, a gage in the Saltair Boat Harbor, at the southern end of the lake.
The Union Pacific Railroad causeway completed in 1959, essentially divides the lake into two parts. The water-surface elevation of the south part of the lake is usually higher than that of the north part because most of the inflow to the lake is in the south part. The north part of the lake has been monitored since April 1966 via USGS Station 10010100, located northwest of Saline, Utah.
Go to elevation gages from links below to see current conditions.
Saltair Boat Harbor Elevation Gage (10010000)
South Side of Causeway Elevation Gage (10010024)
North Arm Elevation Gage near Saline, Utah (10010100)
Great Salt Lake Bathymetry and Surface Area-Volume Estimates
Half-meter topobathymetric elevation model and elevation-area-volume tables for Great Salt Lake, Utah, 2002-2016
Bathymetric maps and area-volume tables associated with the original surveys in the early 2000's of the north and south parts of Great Salt Lake are available from the following links.