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All Canada British Columbia Osoyoos The Spotted Lake (Kliluk)

The Spotted Lake (Kliluk)

A sacred lake composed of over 300 separate pools of highly concentrated minerals.

Osoyoos, British Columbia

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About

The Spotted Lake, or Kliluk, is a strangely-patterned body of water located between the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys in British Columbia's desert.

It contains large amounts of magnesium sulfate, calcium, and sodium sulfates, along with other minerals and traces of silver and titanium. In summer when water evaporates in the desert climate, these minerals are revealed in the "spots" of the lake's name. At that point, it would be possible to walk between the salt crystal polka dots through the dry sections of the lake. (However, a fence at the site limits access and trespassing on the delicate natural wonder is not advised.) In World War I, these salts were used in the manufacturing of explosives.

Considered a sacred medicine spot known as Kliluk by First Nations people in both Canada and the United States, the lake is surrounded by cairns — rock piles often indicating graves.

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Wonders Of Salt Lakes Water

Know Before You Go

This is tribal land, so please make sure to be respectful when visiting, and not trespass.

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annie aronburg

Edited By

pikapika, Bonefinder, Allison, avabee

  • pikapika
  • Bonefinder
  • Allison
  • avabee

Published

June 16, 2010

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Sources
  • http://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw3spottedlake.html
  • Okanagan Nation Alliance - Spotted Lake
  • http://www.syilx.org/history-spottedlake.php
  • http://www.portaec.net/library/wildlife/chiefs_vow_to_protect_spotted.html
The Spotted Lake (Kliluk)
16300 Crowsnest Hwy
Osoyoos, British Columbia, V0H 1V5
Canada
49.080495, -119.56417
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