{"id":518263,"date":"2026-08-24T14:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T14:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T04:01:00","slug":"what-lake-bonneville-left-behind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=518263","title":{"rendered":"What Lake Bonneville Left Behind"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 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src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2322&#038;h=1940&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Tan and white plains surround a dark mountainous ridge in a three-dimensional image of the Silver Island Mountains.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2322&#038;h=1940&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2322w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=300&#038;h=251&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=768&#038;h=642&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=856&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1283&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1711&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=400&#038;h=334&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=600&#038;h=501&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=900&#038;h=752&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1003&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1671&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2322px) 100vw, 2322px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The rugged terrain of the Silver Island Mountains and Crater Island rises above the pale playa and bright salt flats of former Lake Bonneville. The image was acquired with the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat\/oli\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OLI<\/a> (Operational Land Imager) on <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat-8\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat 8<\/a> on June 4, 2026, and overlaid on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/topics\/land-surface\/digital-elevation-terrain-model-dem\" rel=\"noopener\">digital elevation model<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA Earth Observatory\/Michala Garrison<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At its peak, ancient <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f5011189bdc94545b9231d56e4ffc1e4\" rel=\"noopener\">Lake Bonneville<\/a> would have been a sight to behold. Nearly as large as Lake Michigan, the Ice Age lake spread across much of western Utah and parts of Nevada and Idaho. When it eventually receded, it left behind flat, bright <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/of\/2004\/1007\/playas.html\" rel=\"noopener\">playas<\/a> and salt flats rich with minerals\u2014a landscape that would later serve as the setting for feats of engineering and technological ingenuity, as well as epic tales of exploration and desperation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Bonneville began forming about 55,000 years ago during a cool, wet period, when volcanic eruptions in what\u2019s now southeastern Idaho <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-444-63590-7.00002-0\" rel=\"noopener\">diverted the Bear River<\/a>, causing water to gather in Gem Valley and other basins to the south. For tens of thousands of years, a natural dam at <a href=\"https:\/\/idahohighcountry.org\/item\/red-rock-pass\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Red Rock Pass<\/a> helped confine the lake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, about 18,000 years ago, water breached that dam, unleashing a torrent that entered the Columbia River system. Over a six-week period, amid one of North America\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isu.edu\/digitalgeologyidaho\/bonneville\/\" rel=\"noopener\">largest floods<\/a>, lake levels plummeted by more than 350 feet (105 meters). As the climate warmed and dried in subsequent millennia, the lake shrank dramatically, leaving remnants that include today\u2019s Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, and Sevier Lake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Bonneville may be gone, but its imprint on the region\u2019s landscape remains\u2014even in satellite imagery. In this image (below) captured by the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat\/oli\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OLI<\/a> (Operational Land Imager) on the NASA-USGS <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat-8\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat 8<\/a> satellite, bathtub-like rings and wave-cut terraces trace the position of former shorelines. The dried lakebed\u2014where fine-grained clay, marl, and sandy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/water-science-school\/science\/sediment-and-suspended-sediment\" rel=\"noopener\">sediment<\/a> settled out of the water\u2014appears pale in comparison to the darker, rockier, more vegetated surroundings.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2160&#038;h=1516&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1516\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2160&#038;h=1516&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A nadir view shows Crater Island\u2014a dark, linear mountain ridge in the center of the image\u2014flanked by flat tan and white landscapes.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2160&#038;h=1516&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2160w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=300&#038;h=211&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=768&#038;h=539&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=719&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1078&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1437&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=400&#038;h=281&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=600&#038;h=421&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=900&#038;h=632&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=842&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/utahcraterisland_oli_20260604.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1404&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA scientists analyzed the terrain in this part of Utah when testing technologies that will be used on NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/davinci\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DAVINCI mission<\/a> to Venus. This image was acquired with the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat\/oli\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OLI<\/a> (Operational Land Imager) on <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat-8\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat 8<\/a> on June 4, 2026.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA Earth Observatory\/Michala Garrison<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In deep parts of the basin, where runoff and groundwater still pool, bright deposits of <a href=\"https:\/\/geo.libretexts.org\/Courses\/SUNY_Potsdam\/Sedimentary_Geology%3A_Rocks_Environments_and_Stratigraphy\/07%3A_Chemical_Biochemical_and_Other_Sedimentary_Rocks\/7.01%3A_Evaporites\" rel=\"noopener\">evaporite minerals<\/a> coat the land surfaces, forming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thoughtco.com\/salt-flats-geography-1435836\" rel=\"noopener\">salt flats<\/a>. These remarkably flat surfaces are the product of water gradually evaporating and concentrating minerals to produce brines and hard mineral crusts, typically including halite and gypsum, along with potassium- and magnesium-bearing salts. Brines and deposits like these\u2014particularly of <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/map-pub\/survey-notes\/history-of-potash-production-from-the-salduro-salt-marsh-bonneville-salt-flats-tooele-county\/\" rel=\"noopener\">potash<\/a>, which is used as a fertilizer\u2014have long made the playa a target for mining, as seen in the rectangular evaporation ponds above and below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, the darker, more rugged terrain\u2014including the Silver Island Mountains, the Newfoundland Mountains, and the Pilot Range\u2014that rises above the playas is built from layers of erosion-resistant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/subjects\/geology\/sedimentary.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">sedimentary<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/earth-and-planetary-sciences\/metasedimentary-rock\" rel=\"noopener\">metasedimentary<\/a> bedrock that is hundreds of millions of years old. These mountains also contain younger igneous and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/what-are-metamorphic-rocks\" rel=\"noopener\">metamorphic<\/a> rocks that formed when magma intruded into the ancient sedimentary sequence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crater Island, for instance, is composed of sedimentary rocks, including\u00a0silica-rich sandstones and quartzites that formed as sands accumulated in a shallow ocean, as well as intrusions of quartz monzonite, granites, and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/what-are-igneous-rocks\" rel=\"noopener\">igneous<\/a> rocks. Periods of crustal stretching later produced the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universetoday.com\/articles\/fault-block-mountains\" rel=\"noopener\">fault-block mountains<\/a> that define the landscape.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/psd\/solar-system\/planetary-expeditions\/2026-07-davinci-vadix\/DAVINCI%20VADIX%20HighAlt_62326aflightoverGIF.gif?w=1152&#038;h=768&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1152\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/psd\/solar-system\/planetary-expeditions\/2026-07-davinci-vadix\/DAVINCI%20VADIX%20HighAlt_62326aflightoverGIF.gif?w=1152&#038;h=768&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Grayscale aerial image of rugged desert terrain showing branching channels, ridges, and broad textured plains with contrasting light and dark tones.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This animation shows the descent over Crater Island, Utah, of the camera system that will one day fly aboard NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/davinci\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">DAVINCI mission<\/a> to Venus. It was created by stitching together 37 infrared images captured during <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blogs\/planetary-expeditions\/2026\/07\/14\/utah-helicopter-flights-test-nasas-davinci-mission-to-venus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">a test<\/a> on June 24, 2026.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Malin Space Science Systems\/NASA\/Jay Friedlander<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mapping geological distinctions like this took center stage in June 2026 when NASA scientists and engineers working with the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/davinci\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DAVINCI mission<\/a> came to Crater Island\u2014a place they call \u201cVenus on Earth\u201d\u2014to <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blogs\/planetary-expeditions\/2026\/07\/14\/utah-helicopter-flights-test-nasas-davinci-mission-to-venus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">field-test<\/a> the design of a set of cameras and a package of instruments that will eventually descend through the thick atmosphere of Venus and photograph mountains at scales finer than these Landsat images. During a 60-minute descent, the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/davinci\/davincis-many-firsts-at-venus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">pioneering probe<\/a> will capture near-infrared images, measure the atmospheric chemistry, and explore the environment of a world in unprecedented detail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the rehearsals at Crater Island, the camera system took hundreds of images of various rock formations, including iron-rich and silica-rich rock units, while suspended from a helicopter as it descended toward the surface. Using only the images acquired by DAVINCI\u2019s camera systems, the team made three-dimensional maps of the area consistent with existing <a href=\"https:\/\/ugspub.nr.utah.gov\/publications\/geologicmaps\/7-5quadrangles\/M-130.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">geologic maps<\/a>, giving the scientists confidence that they will be able to map the geology of an analogous mountainous region on Venus that DAVINCI will study, an area called <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/photojournal\/venus-alpha-regio\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Alpha Regio<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other epic adventures have played out on and around Lake Bonneville\u2019s playas, as well. The flat, smooth surfaces have often been the setting for new land speed records. In 1960, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mshf.com\/hall-of-fame\/inductees\/mickey-thompson.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Mickey Thompson<\/a> became the first American to break the 400-miles-per-hour (640\u00a0kilometers-per-hour) barrier, hitting <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.nytimes.com\/wheels.blogs.nytimes.com\/2010\/02\/18\/honoring-mickey-thompson-first-american-to-400-m-p-h\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/archive.nytimes.com\/wheels.blogs.nytimes.com\/2010\/02\/18\/honoring-mickey-thompson-first-american-to-400-m-p-h\/\" rel=\"noopener\">406.60 miles per hour<\/a> (654.36\u00a0kilometers per hour) in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hotrod.com\/features\/mickey-thompson-challenger-1-1960-bonneville\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.hotrod.com\/features\/mickey-thompson-challenger-1-1960-bonneville\" rel=\"noopener\">streamlined race car<\/a> on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The feat temporarily earned him the nickname <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jalopyjournal.com\/?p=14667\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cfastest man on Earth.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Straight roads, colorful evaporation ponds, and a long racetrack are visible on bright white salt flats in a satellite image centered east of Wendover.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=960&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1440w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=300&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=768&#038;h=512&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=683&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=400&#038;h=267&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=600&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=900&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">People mine minerals from the Bonneville Salt Flats and use its flat surface to pursue land speed records. This image was acquired with the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat\/oli\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OLI<\/a> (Operational Land Imager) on <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/landsat-8\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Landsat 8<\/a> on June 4, 2026.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA Earth Observatory\/Michala Garrison<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More recently, in August 2026, Andy Green, the first person to break the sound barrier on land, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/sports\/2026\/08\/15\/another-world-speed-record-set\/\" rel=\"noopener\">set a record<\/a> for the fastest land speed in a hydrogen-fueled internal-combustion vehicle, reaching 406.320 miles per hour (653.909 kilometers per hour). By burning hydrogen rather than gasoline, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/technology\/hydrogen-powered-rocket-car-tops-400-mph-in-record-breaking-test-video\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201crocket car\u201d<\/a> produced no carbon dioxide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly two centuries earlier, in August 1846, members of the ill-fated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/cali\/learn\/historyculture\/donner-reed-party.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Donner-Reed Party<\/a> also passed along the southern edge of Crater Island. As part of a shortcut toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/pilot-peak.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Pilot Peak<\/a>, they journeyed from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/hastings-pass.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Hastings Pass<\/a>, past <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/floating-island.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Floating Island<\/a>, and toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/donner-springs.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Donner Spring<\/a>. However, in an ominous sign of challenges to come, their heavy wagons broke through the thin salt crust and became mired in underlying mud, slowing them down and prompting them to <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f4b420a18e0c4480b8a65c264ec99603\/\" rel=\"noopener\">abandon<\/a> several wagons in the desert.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/earthexplorer.usgs.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>U.S. Geological Survey<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em> <em>Story by Adam Voiland.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-file-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module align wp-block-nasa-blocks-file-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row width-full margin-bottom-4\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5307\" height=\"4823\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=5307&#038;h=4823&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A nadir view shows Crater Island\u2014a dark, linear mountain ridge in the center of the image\u2014flanked by flat tan and white landscapes.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=5307&#038;h=4823&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5307w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=300&#038;h=273&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=768&#038;h=698&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=931&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1396&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1861&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=400&#038;h=364&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=600&#038;h=545&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=900&#038;h=818&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1091&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1818&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5307px) 100vw, 5307px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">June 4, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (14.24 MB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download June 4, 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/bonnevillesaltflats_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg\"  download rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16.0001\" r=\"16\" fill=\"#1C67E3\"\/><path d=\"M15.2357 8.00007L15.2357 16.4829L11.9504 13.4078L10.8801 14.4094L16.0001 19.2001L21.1201 14.4094L20.0499 13.4078L16.7645 16.4829L16.7645 8.00007L15.2357 8.00007Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M9.6 20.8001V18.4001H8V22.4001H24V18.4001H22.4V20.8001H9.6Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2322\" height=\"1940\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2322&#038;h=1940&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Tan and white plains surround a dark mountainous ridge in a three-dimensional image of the Silver Island Mountains.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2322&#038;h=1940&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2322w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=300&#038;h=251&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=768&#038;h=642&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=856&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1283&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1711&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=400&#038;h=334&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=600&#038;h=501&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=900&#038;h=752&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1003&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1671&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2322px) 100vw, 2322px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">June 4, 2026: Oblique map<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (2.87 MB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download June 4, 2026: Oblique map\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/what-lake-bonneville-left-behind\/craterisland_oli_20260604_lrg.jpg\"  download rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16.0001\" r=\"16\" fill=\"#1C67E3\"\/><path d=\"M15.2357 8.00007L15.2357 16.4829L11.9504 13.4078L10.8801 14.4094L16.0001 19.2001L21.1201 14.4094L20.0499 13.4078L16.7645 16.4829L16.7645 8.00007L15.2357 8.00007Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M9.6 20.8001V18.4001H8V22.4001H24V18.4001H22.4V20.8001H9.6Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References &#038; Resources <\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Center for Land Use Interpretation, <a href=\"https:\/\/clui.org\/ludb\/site\/intrepid-potash-wendover\" rel=\"noopener\">Intrepid Potash Wendover<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Garvin, J.B., <em>et al. (2022) <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.3847\/PSJ\/ac63c2\" rel=\"noopener\">Revealing the Mysteries of Venus: The DAVINCI Mission<\/a>. <em>The Planetary Science Journal, <\/em>3(117).<\/li>\n<li>Hill Air Force Base (2026, January 28) <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f4b420a18e0c4480b8a65c264ec99603\" rel=\"noopener\">Traces of Travel: Donner-Reed Wagon Sites on the Hastings Cutoff<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Idaho State University, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isu.edu\/digitalgeologyidaho\/bonneville\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Lake Bonneville Flood<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA (2026, July 14) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blogs\/planetary-expeditions\/2026\/07\/14\/utah-helicopter-flights-test-nasas-davinci-mission-to-venus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Helicopter Flights Test NASA\u2019s DAVINCI Mission to Venus<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA, <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/davinci\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DAVINCI<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2018, February 25) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/bonneville-salt-flats-91765\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bonneville Salt Flats<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>National Park Service, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/cali\/learn\/historyculture\/donner-reed-party.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Donner and Reed Wagon Train Incident<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Utah Geological Survey, <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f5011189bdc94545b9231d56e4ffc1e4\" rel=\"noopener\">Lake Bonneville<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026<\/li>\n<li>Utah Geological Survey, <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/collections\/8564b2c0182d495b8e3c66f19e261c46?item=2\" rel=\"noopener\">Geologic History<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Utah Geological Survey, <a href=\"https:\/\/geology.utah.gov\/popular\/great-salt-lake\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Great Salt Lake and Lake Bonneville<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Utah Department of Natural Resources (1990) <a href=\"https:\/\/ugspub.nr.utah.gov\/publications\/geologicmaps\/7-5quadrangles\/M-130.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Geologic Map of the Lucin 4 SW Quadrangle<\/a>. Accessed August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-content-lists-inner hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-content-lists\">\n<div id=\"content-list-8c3b8995-b59f-4d0a-9c7d-a01528c3fa29\" class=\"hds-content-lists margin-y-3 padding-x-0 bg-spacesuit-white width-full maxw-full\" 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class=\"grid-container grid-container-widescreen padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">You may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-2 maxh-tablet\">Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0 margin-0 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\" grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\" style=\"display: block\">\n<div id=\"filter-tags\" class=\"grid-col-12 filter-tags-container\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-orbit-loader\" role=\"status\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"orbit-plane\"><span class=\"orbit-dot\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-list-container\" class=\"hds-content-items hds-content-items-grid margin-top-2\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-rest-url=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/smd\/v1\/content-list\">\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/farming-in-ancient-lake-agassiz\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300px\" height=\"300px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/farming-in-ancient-lake-agassiz\/ISS074-E-494130_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300 300w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/farming-in-ancient-lake-agassiz\/ISS074-E-494130_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/farming-in-ancient-lake-agassiz\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Farming in Ancient Lake Agassiz<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">The glacial lake left a layer of silt and clay in southeastern Manitoba, creating fertile farmland that was divided during\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300px\" height=\"300px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300 300w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Rising Waters Swamp Lake Naivasha<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    6 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Relentless rains are threatening a lake in Kenya\u2019s Great Rift Valley that has become a key hub in the global\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/americas-emerald-isle\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300px\" height=\"300px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/america\u2019s-emerald-isle\/beaverisland_oli2_20240802_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300 300w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/america%E2%80%99s-emerald-isle\/beaverisland_oli2_20240802_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/americas-emerald-isle\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">America\u2019s Emerald Isle<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Beaver Island is one in a string of verdant and scenic jewels in a northern Lake Michigan archipelago.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"pagination-container\" class=\"pagination\">\n<nav class=\"hds-pagination hds-pagination--content-lists\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Pagination Navigation\" data-mid-size=\"2\" data-end-size=\"1\" data-max-pages=\"4\" >\n<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\" aria-label=\"Current Page, Page 1\" aria-current=\"true\" 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mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&#038;h=425&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&#038;h=425&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 585w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=300&#038;h=218&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, 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https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/data\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Science Data<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Open access to NASA\u2019s archive of Earth science data<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png 3600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=300,150 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=768,384 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=1024,512 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