Bristol Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bristol Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Bristol Lake
Location in California
Bristol Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Mojave Desert San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°27′44″N 115°40′26″W / 34.4622°N 115.6738°W |
| Lake type | Endorheic basin |
| Primary outflows | Terminal (evaporation) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 23 km (14 mi) |
| Max. width | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Shore length1 | 70 km (43 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Settlements | Amboy, California Saltus, California |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Bristol Lake is a large dry lake (also called a playa) located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. It's about 42 kilometers (26 miles) northeast of Twentynine Palms.
This dry lake is found southeast of Amboy, California and the historic Route 66. To its west are the Amboy Crater and the Bullion Mountains, while the Old Woman Mountains are to the east.
Bristol Lake is quite big, stretching about 23 kilometers (14 miles) long and 20 kilometers (12 miles) wide at its widest point.
What is Bristol Lake?
Bristol Lake is a special type of lake found in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County. It's known as a playa lake. This means it's usually dry, but it can fill with water after heavy rains. The water then evaporates, leaving behind a flat, dry lakebed.
It's part of a group of playa lakes in the area, including Cadiz Lake and Danby Lake. These lakes are all located in a region called the Basin and Range Province.
Minerals in the Lakebed
The dry bed of Bristol Lake is full of interesting minerals. Scientists have found that these minerals are arranged in a pattern, like a target or "bullseye."
- At the very center, you'll find a lot of halite, which is the mineral form of salt.
- Around the halite, there's a layer of mud.
- Further out, there's gypsum, another mineral.
- Finally, the edges of the lakebed are made of sand.
These minerals also form layers underground. Gypsum is found deeper down, followed by mud and halite, with halite often on top. The gypsum crystals can be quite large, especially closer to the center of the lakebed.
Salt Production
Because Bristol Lake is a dry lake with a lot of salt, it's a good place for a salt evaporator operation. This is a business that collects salt from the lakebed. They let water evaporate, leaving the salt behind, which can then be harvested. This operation is located just east of Amboy Road on the dry lakebed.
-
Salt evaporators in Bristol Dry Lake
-
Bristol Dry Lake after a rainfall
