A Salted Secret: The Lake That Stays on the Border

The lake sits a few miles north of Washington, in British Columbia. It has no rivers to drain it, so rainwater stays until the heat turns it into vapor. Because of this closed system, minerals cling to the bottom and make the remaining water very salty—think of the Great Salt Lake or the Caspian Sea, but on a smaller scale. The water is full of sodium and carbonate, similar to baking soda. Inside the lake, brine pools vary in magnesium sulfate and calcium levels. Those chemical differences give the water its patchy colors and influence the tiny algae that grow there.For centuries, the local Syilx Okanagan First Nation called it “kłlilx’w” or “sacred place. ” They believed each pool had healing powers. In 2001, the lake and its 56 acres returned to the First Nation after several ownership changes. During World War I, people collected the lake’s salt and minerals to make ammunition. A geologist at that time compared the brine to “the white of an eggshell” and noted its heavy, slimy texture. The sulfates also produce a strong, unpleasant smell. Today the lake remains both a spiritual site and a natural laboratory. Scientists study its unique chemistry, while visitors are drawn by its eerie beauty.