Spotted Lake
Spotted Lake is found on the west side of Highway 3 about 7 kilometers west of Osoyoos. There is no outlet to the drainage basin for Spotted Lake which leads to accumulation of minerals which precipitate out of the water due to reaction with oxygen and evaporation of the water. The circular pool features are composed of epsom salts, calcium sulfate and gypsum.
This site is managed by the Okanagan First Nations as a cultural, medicinal and sacred site, and is not accessible to the public other than a pull-out and viewpoint along Highway 3.
The deposit was mined for magnesium sulphate from 1915-1920 and shipped to Oroville Washington for processing.
References
Biden, M. 2009. Okanagan from above. Self Published. [contains excellent aerial photo]
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.). 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p. 78-79 & 171.
This site is managed by the Okanagan First Nations as a cultural, medicinal and sacred site, and is not accessible to the public other than a pull-out and viewpoint along Highway 3.
The deposit was mined for magnesium sulphate from 1915-1920 and shipped to Oroville Washington for processing.
References
Biden, M. 2009. Okanagan from above. Self Published. [contains excellent aerial photo]
Roed, MA and Fulton, RJ (eds.). 2011. Okanagan Geology South. Okanagan Geology Committee. p. 78-79 & 171.