Spotted Lake — Osoyoos, Canada

 Spotted Lake — Osoyoos, Canada 

Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia in Canada. It is located near the city of Osoyoos, beside Highway 3, near the U.S. border, Spotted Lake is known for its “leopard” landscapes. Local water saturated with mineral salts, has a huge concentration of magnesium sulfate, calcium, sodium, silver and titanium. Due to the high density of minerals in the water body can only survive microorganisms, fish is not found. Such natural anomaly and is the cause of colored tanks. Most saturated colors typical for the summer months when the spot formed on the surface of the lake, painted in yellow and green colors. At other times, the predominant color is graphite gray.

According to legend, Spotted Lake stop a long war between the tribes of Canadian Indians Okanagan. While crossing his warriors mineral water washed their wounds, which immediately healed. Healing properties of reservoir reminded Indians that it makes no sense to wound, which is so easy to be tightened – and the peace talks have replaced the decisive bloody battle. Now near the lake in nearby Osoyoos, lives the same name Indian community.

With the onset of the summer season almost mineral water cures, allowing walks through spotted lake. However, due to the fact that the formal pond is a privately owned Canadian Indians, tourists access to the surface is prohibited, and the boundaries are surrounded by barbed wire. To monitor the natural anomaly near the highway is built special viewing platform and placarded. Theoretically, for a stroll on the mineral formations can get a special permit issued by the local tribal elder, but in practice such aspirations rarely crowned with success.

Mineral and salt concentration — Spotted Lake is very highly concentrated with numerous different minerals. It contains some of the highest quantities (in the world) of magnesium sulfate, calcium and sodium sulphates. It also contains extremely high concentrations of eight other minerals as well as some small doses of four others such as silver and titanium.

Most of the water in the lake evaporates over the summer, leaving behind all the minerals. Large “spots” on the lake appear and depending on the mineral composition at the time, the spots will be different colors. The spots are made mainly of magnesium sulfate, which crystallizes in the summer. In the summer only the minerals in the lake remain, and they harden to form natural “walkways” around and between the spots.