My Experience: Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake

It’s easy to place yourself in the wetlands and the shores of the Great Salt Lake and close your eyes — immersing yourself in a serene serenade that has been slowly washing back into the ever-growing shallows of the saltiness of small waves. 

The squawking, chirping, and calling from the millions of birds that descend on this precious body of water — among the many other critters and animals — can be music to some, and it should be to all. The soft rhythm of waves lapping the shoreline — occasionally giving way to thunderous winds sweeping across the lake and surrounding mountains — adds a more unexpected chorus. From the lake’s far western edge near the Tooele Army Depot comes the distant booms of military detonations. Overhead, the high-pitched roar of fighter and commercial jets cuts through the air. Together, these sounds form a unique, ever-present soundscape — a natural orchestra that locals and visitors alike have listened to for generations.

At dawn, the same waters offer another kind of spectacle. The sunrise breaks from the east and spills across the lake’s surface, igniting it in layers of gold, orange, and soft pink. The light dances and refracts across the rippling water, creating an ever-shifting canvas that feels both fleeting and eternal. And during the long stretch of summer evenings, the sky lingers in a slow fade — casting an array of colors so vivid and unexpected they would make even the most seasoned artist jealous of nature’s own kaleidoscope. 

Together, these elements create an unlikely symphony; a natural orchestra that locals and visitors alike have been tuning into for generations. It is a place where nature and industry collide — not always gently, but undeniably powerfully.