How come the Great Salt Lake isn't an inland sea?

Question

It has 4 times the amount of salt levels of any ocean

Answer 1

I cut the information below from the page referenced in the source. I guess it all depends on the definition of sea versus lake. There may be someone that has a strict definition, but apparently, we can find various examples where contradictions exist.

So, my answer would be that the largest body of water in Utah is an inland sea that we have chosen to call the Great Salt Lake.


"First a primer about what's the difference between a lake and a sea. While "sea" is a general designation for all the salt water in all the oceans, it's also the name associated with bodies of salt water that are partially landlocked, like the Red Sea. "Sea" is used as well to designate inland bodies of salt water, such as the Aral Sea, and sometimes even inland bodies of fresh water, for example the Sea of Gallilee. A lake is considered to be a large, inland body of fresh water, though, no distinction is given as to exactly how large a body of water must be to be a lake. For our purposes, we'll say that any inland water body is a lake, regardless of whether it contains fresh or salty water."

Answer 2

Salt Lake Sea

Answer 3

As far as I know, that area used to be a large inland sea, millions of years ago. I've found fossils along 7000 foot high ridges that are marine in nature (coral and cockles).

The salinity of the GSL is supposed to be caused by mineral transport in the surrounding areas. Think of the GSL like a great catch basin. Give it a few million years and because of the evaporative potential of that area in warm months, it continues to increase in salinity.

Answer 4

Of corse, you're form of appropriate. the worldwide replace into as quickly as believed to be one vast great-continent which we call the Pangae. via continental drift the surfcae split aside to creat the worldwide as all of us comprehend it right this moment. interior the approach there would have been rises and falls interior the exterior of the earth causeing sea water to seep in. ultimately while there replace into no direct get admission to it might have evaporated in which you have your salt lakes or evaporated and rained back off.

Answer 5

It was at one time.