Great Salt Lake

American  

noun

1. a shallow salt lake in northwestern Utah. 2,300 sq. mi. (5,950 sq. km); 80 miles (130 kilometers) long; maximum depth 60 feet (18 meters).

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Great Salt Lake British  

noun

1. a shallow salt lake in NW Utah, in the Great Basin at an altitude of 1260 m (4200 ft): the area has fluctuated from less than 2500 sq km (1000 sq miles) to over 5000 sq km (2000 sq miles)

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Great Salt Lake Cultural  

1. Shallow body of salt water in northwestern Utah.

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Discover More

Salt Lake City is near the Great Salt Lake.

Largest body of salt water in North America.

Etymology

Origin of Great Salt Lake

First recorded in 1840–45

Example Sentences

“Every Utahn is aware of our shrinking and dying Great Salt Lake and the role that plays in our economy, our climate, the lake effect, even for sending snow to ski resorts.”

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026

“Also, we’re in a situation where the Great Salt Lake is drying out, and we haven’t even begun to stop the decline.”

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026

That makes the Great Salt Lake discovery especially puzzling.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026

The Great Salt Lake, by contrast, sits about 4,200 feet above sea level and is roughly 800 miles from the nearest ocean.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026

Leo wasn’t sure if there were oysters in the Great Salt Lake.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan