The Bonneville Salt Flats: Decline of the Fastest Place on Earth

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 3. 11. 2020
  • Go to curiositystream.thld.co/geogr... for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series, and for our listeners, enter the promo code GEOGRAPHICS when prompted during the sign­up process and your membership is completely free for the first 30 days.
    → Subscribe for new videos two times per week.
    / @geographicstravel
    This video is #sponsored by Curiosity Stream.
    Our sister channels:
    Biographics - / @biographics
    TopTenz - / @toptenznettop10

Komentáře • 810

  • @geographicstravel
    @geographicstravel  Před 3 lety +24

    Go to curiositystream.thld.co/geographicsnov for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series, and for our listeners, enter the promo code GEOGRAPHICS when prompted during the sign­up process and your membership is completely free for the first 30 days.

    • @rosepopov5341
      @rosepopov5341 Před 3 lety +2

      It’s a must to build multiple streams of income especially in this period of pandemic. Also have in mind we don’t know if or when another so called pandemic can happen. So now is really the best time to start pushing a side hustle because no one can fire you from your own business and well your 9-5 we all know how quick they can get rid of you. If you have to work to pay bills by all means do what you have to do but make sure you get your priorities together. I've been doing that by investing in the stocks, bitcoin and financial market and I'm grateful to say I've earned a lot so far this month working with a Mr.Nicholas Myron through his registered investment company. Just do something that will make you money whilst you sleep, no matter how little. The pandemic has been a perfect eye opener for us all to really see how life can be without your usual income stream. Reach him via Instagram @nichola__fxtrade

    • @larrygarcia3992
      @larrygarcia3992 Před 3 lety

      Nice content, but permit me to introduce you a legendary trader who trade for me. I never believed in forex trading but Mr Nicholas make me understand how it works and I give it a try, surprisingly I got my profit of $15,750 I found this honest, I want you all to check Mr Nicholas on Instagram @nicholas__fxtrade tell him I send you.

    • @barrydysert2974
      @barrydysert2974 Před 3 lety

      💜💜The first time ever I've heard, "two ninety nine" in your spoken word!:-)💜💜

    • @marcbeebee6969
      @marcbeebee6969 Před 3 lety

      3:30 jededahia Springfield from the simpsons

    • @cern.a
      @cern.a Před 3 lety

      I think he gets up every day and shits advertisements.

  • @sombrs44
    @sombrs44 Před 3 lety +35

    My cousin and his dad used to race on the Salt flats. They'd work on their cars in their own garage, went up and raced every year. His sisters little dog was even on the news for it once!
    Sadly my cousin was murdered last year. He was 18. Its been a really rough recovery for them all.
    His dad set the record, October 2020, in his sons honor.

  • @stlchucko
    @stlchucko Před 3 lety +60

    The Bonneville racers have been some of the most ardent advocates of preserving the salt flats.

  • @juliafreij6220
    @juliafreij6220 Před 3 lety +247

    I love the salt flats I live in Salt Lake City people are always shooting films there. One word of advice, don't wear loose pants or shorts, the flats is like a big mirror for the sun the light refelcts so well and I have gotten my ass sunburnt a few times.

    • @BA-gn3qb
      @BA-gn3qb Před 3 lety +7

      So . . .Don't wear anything on your bum instead? 🤔😳

    • @juliafreij6220
      @juliafreij6220 Před 3 lety +30

      @@BA-gn3qb nah maybe a bit poorly worded. Wear tight pants or leggings so your skins is covered fully. Though I have seen many running nude and happy so it’s an option

    • @BA-gn3qb
      @BA-gn3qb Před 3 lety +10

      @@juliafreij6220 - Ah. Ok. I see you edited your original comment too.
      Going full nude wouldn't be an option for me either. An all over tan would be an all over burn very quickly on the salt flats.

    • @adamloverin231
      @adamloverin231 Před 3 lety +27

      Aaaaaand THIS discussion is why I always check the comments.

    • @greeceuranusputin
      @greeceuranusputin Před 3 lety +8

      @@juliafreij6220 A big thumbs up for tight pants.

  • @TORchic1
    @TORchic1 Před 3 lety +74

    Man, the Salt Flats are wonderful. I live in Salt Lake County and I remember my dad driving by them whenever he'd take us to Wendover. It wasn't until I started driving that I would stop by to look at them. I loved looking at them after the rain. It's so beautiful.
    I really want them to survive.

    • @fridayfaye
      @fridayfaye Před 3 lety +2

      The only time I have ever seen them is while it was all rainy and cloudy out, so while I didn't get the mountain-view background, I did get to see the flats while they looked like a giant mirror!

    • @lolbored801
      @lolbored801 Před 3 lety

      I cam here to say pretty much the same thing. I drive by all the time on my way to Wendover.

    • @Iroxinping
      @Iroxinping Před 3 lety +1

      not been to utah in well over a decade but went there many times from Cali in the 80-00's.....they went from beautiful white to an ugly grey the last time i went about 15 years ago

    • @AtomicReverend
      @AtomicReverend Před 3 lety +2

      @@Iroxinping I have been going there since the late 1980s and every year it gets worse and worse from leach mining.

    • @jax4652
      @jax4652 Před 3 lety

      Am I the only one unable to read wendover without thinking wendigo?

  • @m.r.phelps4095
    @m.r.phelps4095 Před 3 lety +9

    "The Worlds Fastest Indian" best movie ever featuring Anthony Hopkins as Burt Monroe. Record holder at the flats.

  • @mtacoustic1
    @mtacoustic1 Před rokem +5

    Ancient Lake Bonneville did not simply dry up, but breached a weak gravel bar serving as a natural dike on the northern shore, resulting in a catastrophic flood. The floodwaters created the spectacular Snake River Canyon on the southern boarder of Idaho. The once huge Lake Bonneville ended up as the relatively tiny Great Salt Lake and Salt Flats. There are some great CZcams videos on this.

  • @hughjoelcock7145
    @hughjoelcock7145 Před 3 lety +196

    “The Worlds Fastest Indian” is a great motorcycle movie shot there.

    • @ItsMeeJon
      @ItsMeeJon Před 3 lety +10

      Definitely a “must watch” for any 2 wheel fan

    • @hughjoelcock7145
      @hughjoelcock7145 Před 3 lety +3

      ItsMeJon any gearhead who thinks he’s exhausted everything there is in the way of “car movies” at that.

    • @jiveturkey9993
      @jiveturkey9993 Před 3 lety +4

      That's a great movie.

    • @donkeyslayer4661
      @donkeyslayer4661 Před 3 lety +1

      That movie sucked, big time.

    • @hughjoelcock7145
      @hughjoelcock7145 Před 3 lety +7

      Donkey Slayer oh wow, I found the one guy that doesn’t like the movie. Congrats.

  • @thirstfast1025
    @thirstfast1025 Před 3 lety +20

    So the lesson is, if anyone named "Donner" asks if you want to join an expedition, run don't walk

  • @tavferry3301
    @tavferry3301 Před 3 lety +12

    As a Utahn, I'd love to see this place restored. Beautiful part of Utah's outdoors that deserves to be preserved.

  • @darraghmckenna9127
    @darraghmckenna9127 Před 3 lety +200

    Can we have a Geographics on the Nurburgring?

    • @Thumbsupurbum
      @Thumbsupurbum Před 3 lety +36

      And then a video of Simon doing a lap around the Nordschleife.

    • @litewerks2509
      @litewerks2509 Před 3 lety +16

      Simon you should do this, it’s quite old, survived wars, and has a fascinating history.

    • @adamcook
      @adamcook Před 3 lety +4

      As long as we get a list of the cars it's ruined

    • @darraghmckenna9127
      @darraghmckenna9127 Před 3 lety +7

      @@Thumbsupurbum “wow there is a lot of corners on this track” - Simon *mid Lap

    • @Lakhshamana
      @Lakhshamana Před 3 lety +14

      *_"Bomb it!"_*
      -James May

  • @themugwump33
    @themugwump33 Před 3 lety +162

    Forrest Gump never shot anywhere near the flats! That scene was shot on a famous highway in Monument Valley, which is on the other side of the state. Oh God... I’ve become THAT guy.... oh sweet Jesus, why??
    Excellent video. Carry on. I have liked and subbed.

    • @samsamson391
      @samsamson391 Před 3 lety +13

      Somebody had to do it!! I came to the comments section looking for a comment like yours.

    • @dr.a006
      @dr.a006 Před 3 lety +3

      Literally at the other end of the state!

    • @drumboarder1
      @drumboarder1 Před 3 lety +7

      Every so often we're all that guy, as long as we're not THAT that guy though

    • @dynomar11
      @dynomar11 Před 3 lety +7

      I mean it is a video presenting itself as factual. They should be more consistent

    • @mattfors1791
      @mattfors1791 Před 3 lety +1

      @@drumboarder1 amos?

  • @Tarotgal8205
    @Tarotgal8205 Před 3 lety +11

    I grew up in a small town, Magna, and we enjoyed watching Land Speed Trials. I saw Craig Breedlove break the world's record!

  • @tncorgi92
    @tncorgi92 Před 3 lety +80

    I kept hearing "The Donna Reed Party." Because I'm old.

    • @sschmidtevalue
      @sschmidtevalue Před 3 lety +3

      Thanks Now that's what I'm going to hear.

    • @TheDoppelgangster
      @TheDoppelgangster Před 3 lety +8

      Little known fact: People often associate Donna Reed with cannibalism.

    • @stevyd
      @stevyd Před 3 lety +6

      @@TheDoppelgangster But that's only because she gave so many dinner parties.

    • @samsamson391
      @samsamson391 Před 3 lety +2

      OMG, I'm glad I'm not the only one!! That's all I could hear!!
      The show was in reruns in the 90s and I pretty much watched all Nick at Nite shows. I remember Donna Reed very well.

    • @Paldasan
      @Paldasan Před 3 lety +2

      It's very different to the Doner Kebab party.

  • @WildStar2002
    @WildStar2002 Před 3 lety +12

    Salt Lake City native here. I used to go out there all the time to watch the high-powered model rocket clubs compete! 🚀

  • @VegasAlien1
    @VegasAlien1 Před 2 lety +3

    With his accent, I keep hearing him say, "The Donna Reed party." That would actually have been a very nice kind of party.

  • @aerotechify
    @aerotechify Před 3 lety +18

    You should start an "Engineering Disasters" channel. The Salton Sea would be the perfect first episode.

    • @aerotechify
      @aerotechify Před 3 lety +2

      @JAG "was forced to leave it's channel by the inadvertent actions of men." Sounds engineered to me. The Salton Sea was the result of an engineering disaster.

  • @ignitionfrn2223
    @ignitionfrn2223 Před 3 lety +5

    1:40 - Chapter 1 - Formation
    2:55 - Chapter 2 - History
    5:35 - Chapter 3 - The majestic & dangerous canals
    6:40 - Mid roll ads
    7:45 - Chapter 4 - Shooting location
    8:40 - Chapter 5 - A favorite tourist local
    10:30 - Chapter 6 - The silver island mountains
    12:05 - Chapter 7 - Environnemental troubles
    15:40 - Chapter 8 - End of an era

  • @partlycloudy7707
    @partlycloudy7707 Před 3 lety +10

    I love the salt flats and the entire area out there. Fun fact, we also have an amateur rocketry event called "Hellfire" on the flats. It's a pretty fun weekend in August.

  • @skittyrocks
    @skittyrocks Před 3 lety +96

    Sad to see the decline of the salt flats. I remember watching "The World's Fastest Indian" and being really interested in the whole racing scene there. Always comes down to mismanagement doesn't it?

    • @ZekeGraal
      @ZekeGraal Před 3 lety +11

      I hope they can restore it. I'm a huge gearhead, and I had no idea the Flats were in such bad shape...

    • @pansprayers
      @pansprayers Před 3 lety +18

      The entire state is mismanaged. If you head just a little bit further southwest from the BSF, you can experience the joy of mutated deer and rabbits at Duway Proving Grounds, and visit the senic nuclar waste dumping grounds thanks to the generous contribution of Energy Solutions Corp. If that's not thrilling enough, then Kennecott Mining's industrial relic as you head towards Tooele and the old Topaz Internment Camp are a thrilling end to the day. Be sure to gtab an N95 mask for your trip back to SLC so you can actually breath the air though - what they call an 'inversion' is actually air pollution so terrible that it sometimes outpaces Shanghai in how thick it is. I don't misd that place.

    • @drboze6781
      @drboze6781 Před 2 lety +4

      @Jerry Davis - You mean private industrial contractors maximizing profit.

    • @horsefly1020
      @horsefly1020 Před 2 lety

      @@drboze6781 aka government... They have their hand in the cookie jar.

  • @TinyScorpion44
    @TinyScorpion44 Před 3 lety +60

    I'm currently building a land speed racer with the goal of setting a record as a Fiat powered Fiat. I'm not one of the big guys with a mere 1.4l engine and my class not allowing streamlining, so I'll be on the short course, but the goal is to beat the last X1/9 who ran and they had a crazier engine and were streamlined. My goal is 169mph, so I'll be on the short course which should hopefully still be around in a year and a half.

    • @ticopunkerz
      @ticopunkerz Před 3 lety +1

      What's the fastest you've even been in a vehicle on land? I've been to around 130 in a street rod, but the driver immediately let off the throttle at that point. I was shaking from the adrenalin and my eyes were watering ftom the nitrous fumes, but it was exhilarating! I can't imagine what 160+mph would feel like but id like to find out! Good luck on your mission!!

    • @joe18425
      @joe18425 Před 3 lety +5

      Yeah well im going for the land speed record of the fastest bmx with a playing card in the spokes.
      Yeah ha, front and back wheel !

    • @TinyScorpion44
      @TinyScorpion44 Před 3 lety +2

      @@ticopunkerz I've done 120 in a modified Fiat 500 Abarth...on snow tires. Had more to give but 120 on studded snows is skeeeetchy so I pulled back. And now I want go faster in an even smaller car, but with extensive safety modifications and on appropriate rubber. I wouldn't do it of I felt it was too unsafe. The theoretical top speed of the car will be 177, but that's very unlikely on salt.

    • @ticopunkerz
      @ticopunkerz Před 3 lety +3

      @@TinyScorpion44 You are certifiable...a certifiable badass that is!! The car I was in was a 1975 Chevy Monza. I don't think I've even seen one since, esp not one with a high hp racing engine!

    • @ticopunkerz
      @ticopunkerz Před 3 lety +1

      @@joe18425 Never give up on your dreams!!!

  • @SuperMississippian
    @SuperMississippian Před 3 lety +14

    The Silver Island Mountains are much older than the Pleistocene. They date to formation of the Basin and Range province, tens of millions of years ago.

  • @antoniovillanueva308
    @antoniovillanueva308 Před 2 lety +7

    The Freemont period is named for the Freemont river, which strangely enough is named for the explorer John C Freemont.

  • @davidleadford6511
    @davidleadford6511 Před 3 lety +46

    Lake Bonneville did not just evaporate away.. It actually overtopped an earthen barrier in Idaho. And that pretty much drained the lake. I live in a valley in Idaho that the Bonneville flood rushed through.

    • @Prosper_Dean
      @Prosper_Dean Před 3 lety +2

      Is the treasure valley caused by this?

    • @OslikusPrime
      @OslikusPrime Před 3 lety +11

      I don't know much about Idaho, I am from Europe, but I think you are wrong. Or at least both things had to happen, overtopping don't explain forming of salt flats. To form salt crust that thick, there had to be a huge amount of water which evaporated.

    • @garretth8224
      @garretth8224 Před 3 lety +11

      @@OslikusPrime Lake Bonneville was in a basin that had no output. The overflow broke a natural dam in what is now Red Rock pass but that isn't the reason it dried up. It was still 4700 feet deep after that. The climate getting dryer made the evaporation out pace the amount of water going into it.

    • @OslikusPrime
      @OslikusPrime Před 3 lety +3

      @@garretth8224 Yes, that is what I was thinking. I just wanted to say, that overtopping or not, it has nothing to do with forming of salt deposits.

    • @infinidominion
      @infinidominion Před 3 lety +2

      That place should be called the Bonnevilliage

  • @davudlastname2545
    @davudlastname2545 Před 3 lety +149

    Maaaan, imagine how much soup you could make with that

    • @MrZip420
      @MrZip420 Před 3 lety +7

      i like the way you think

    • @Ramonatho
      @Ramonatho Před 3 lety +18

      That's at least like 3 or 4 good soups right there.

    • @suzykendallosborne
      @suzykendallosborne Před 3 lety +9

      Carmelize some onions and add some croutons and cheese and that would be delicious french onion soup!

    • @DudeOfCoolness45
      @DudeOfCoolness45 Před 3 lety +2

      At least 2 cans of campbells chicken noodle

    • @1337fraggzb00N
      @1337fraggzb00N Před 3 lety

      🤤

  • @timgooding2448
    @timgooding2448 Před 3 lety +12

    Come to Australia plenty of salt flats here. Lake Gairdner gets a bit of use. Problem with our lakes/flats is they are in the middle on nowhere.

    • @Paldasan
      @Paldasan Před 3 lety +4

      Everything in Australia is in the middle of nowhere, indeed the entire continent is in the middle of nowhere. 😬

    • @eddiec5202
      @eddiec5202 Před 3 lety +2

      USA have more Salt Flats than Australia. In fact USA is the country with the most deserts (26), sand dunes, geysers, hoodoos, rock formations, badlands, salt flats, canyons, arches, natural bridges, natural pools in the world. USA is also the country with mosr climate zones with 26 of the 30. 2nd place is China with only 18. Australia only have 12. USA also have tropical climate with jungles, wetlands, springs, beaches, tropical forest, waterfalls, palm trees, coral reefs, coastline, etc. USA is also the country with the most volcanoes on earth (180), supervolcanoes (7). Also have Artic climate with Icerbergs, fjords, sounds, Ice Caves, Glacial lakes, glaciers, tundras, rivers. Plus it also have the largest underwater canyon, underwater cave and the deepest point on earth (Mariana Trench). The tallest mountain on earth is also in the USA (Mauna Kea). USA also have the hottest and driest place on earth (Death Valley), sunniest place on earth (Yuma Arizona), least sunniest place on earth (Barrow, Alaska). The largest difference between hottest (56.7 Celsius, which is a world record in Death Valley) and coldest weather ever recorded (-63 celsius, 2nd in the world history) for a world record difference of 119.7 celsius. The largest lake in the world is also in the USA. In general combined total area and exclusive economic zone USA is the largest country in the world. #2 by total area only. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS IT ALL. By the way I'm NOT American just stating some facts here. I'm from the Dominican Republic.

    • @cubiusblockus3973
      @cubiusblockus3973 Před 3 lety

      @@eddiec5202 mariana trench is near japan, its not in the USA.
      the tallest mountain is mt Everest which is in Tibet.
      The driest place on earth is in the Atacama desert in chile.
      the largest fresh water lake by volume is lake biakal, russia.
      The largest country in the world is Russia....
      Your facts are no where near accurate

    • @eddiec5202
      @eddiec5202 Před 3 lety +1

      @@cubiusblockus3973 First of all you seriouly need to learn how to read. THE LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IF YOU INCLUDE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE in the WORLD is the USA. I later said that the USA is the 2nd largest by total area behind Russia. Learn how to read. Lake Baikal (31,500 Km 2) is nowhere near as big as Lake Superior (82,100 km 2). The tallest mountain in the world is Mauna Kea (10,211 Km) far taller than Mount everest (8,849) Mauna Kea have more than 6,000 Km underwater. Need to learn the difference between tallest mountain (Mauna Kea) and highest point on earth (Mount Everest). Other thing is the Mariana Trench is right in the Marianas Island (US territory), the Mariana Trench is part of the National Monument of the Marianas. Plus you are right about the Atacama being the driest, that was the only mistake I made there. The other things that I said were Facts. Document yourself before saying someone FACTS were not accurate. were NOT where. And I'm not even a English native speaker.

    • @raypitts4880
      @raypitts4880 Před 2 lety +2

      yanks bragging till some one reminds them how small and broken their country is.
      big gund big mouths big every thing
      pommies had a word for the yanks over sexts and over here.

  • @nothingtoseaheardammit
    @nothingtoseaheardammit Před 3 lety +90

    I'm binging Simon's channels today. Great distraction from the silliness going on right now.

    • @TheDenisedrake
      @TheDenisedrake Před 3 lety +4

      Same here.

    • @ciarajeanr
      @ciarajeanr Před 3 lety +4

      I'm gonna do the same thing. Ugh.

    • @happymeal5182
      @happymeal5182 Před 3 lety +6

      I would recommend Business Blaze. 10/10.

    • @drozdood9
      @drozdood9 Před 3 lety +4

      Lol. Me too. Why is this the best therapy to the stupidity of today!?

    • @sandybarnes887
      @sandybarnes887 Před 3 lety +6

      Great. With 11 channels you have plenty to binge on.

  • @palmlimit9297
    @palmlimit9297 Před 3 lety +23

    The Fremont period, named after the Fremont River which in turn is named like many things and places in the American west named after John C. Fremont. Sooooo in reality the Fremont period yep named after John C. Fremont🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀🤯

  • @surferdude4487
    @surferdude4487 Před 3 lety +6

    I visited the salt flats in February 1981. Even back then, the salt flats were decaying. People were pretty clear at the time that the decline was due to the mining of thousands of tons of salt every year (Ya think?) There were places at the side of I 80 where I could see that vehicles had gone off the road and nearly buried themselves. The craters must have been up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) deep. The guy that was with me took a picture of me running up the speedway. He even put it out of focus so that it looked like I was blurred with speed. Anyway, it was a beautiful place, full of history. I hope that greed does not prevail and the powers that be will finally decide to preserve or even restore it.

    • @asherdie
      @asherdie Před 3 lety +1

      The powers that be (BLM, U.S. government) are making money off the mining.

  • @rodchallis8031
    @rodchallis8031 Před 3 lety +18

    For Trivia Buffs: Survivors of the Donner Reed party went on to star in "It's a Wonderful Life", and later have a long runnng TV. Show.

  • @jean-michel_comhaire
    @jean-michel_comhaire Před 3 lety +61

    04:19 The Donner party suffered heavy losses ... Jesus, Simon - that's an understatement

    • @maconp1119
      @maconp1119 Před 3 lety +4

      @JAG Hey dude, Simon even had a helpful subtitle underneath... You can read, yes? I only ask because the reading and comprehension skills of anyone under 30 are usually poor at best.

    • @belland_dog8235
      @belland_dog8235 Před 3 lety +2

      @@maconp1119 Boomer humor

    • @paulcarmi8130
      @paulcarmi8130 Před 2 lety

      @@belland_dog8235 its not even that, it was just unnecessary lmao

  • @mybackhurts7020
    @mybackhurts7020 Před 3 lety +12

    I have lived next to El Mirage dry lake bed most of my life used to be able to go out there anytime you wanted it was fun we used to camp out there a lot. But because people don’t listen and drive on it while the lake is wet it has messed up and made the lake much smaller so the government closed it off

  • @edylcnostrebor9722
    @edylcnostrebor9722 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us all

  • @trucknlifewithladybelle5557

    I’m a truck driver and I love crossing the salt flats doesn’t matter what kind of year in fact I will be crossing over today on my way toSioux Falls South Dakota it is beautiful majestic deadly

  • @andrewsky59
    @andrewsky59 Před 3 lety +2

    I took my 11 year old son to see the salt flats a month ago during his fall school break. Although I have lived in the SLC area for over 20 years, I had never before been there. It was so beautiful and serenely quiet! It would be a tragedy if a concerted effort was not made to preserve at least a large part of the flats for future generations.

  • @TestingPyros
    @TestingPyros Před 3 lety +3

    The Boys of Bonneville is a truly amazing movie about how one man created much, if not most, of the prestige of the salt flats!

  • @SpeedofCheeseRacing
    @SpeedofCheeseRacing Před 3 lety +4

    Thank you for doing this video. It is personally devastating what has happened to the famous Bonneville Salt flats. It has been a part of the majority of my life.

  • @teceyS3
    @teceyS3 Před 3 lety +1

    I was born and raised in Utah, and spent most of my early life living in Salt Lake City - this was an awesome video about the Bonneville Salt Flats! I learned things from your video that I did not know before- I currently live in southern Utah. You have an awesome Channel! Keep up the good work- I subscribed!
    ;)

  • @tomhoward8304
    @tomhoward8304 Před 3 lety

    I learned a great deal about this that I never knew before, and I'm a local resident. Thank you for what you shared, great video.

  • @NomadicLiving
    @NomadicLiving Před 3 lety +17

    Amusing that everyone who has abused the area are blaming each other - they are all to blame. It should be left alone.

    • @xjunkxyrdxdog89
      @xjunkxyrdxdog89 Před 3 lety

      Whats the point of preserving it for no one?

    • @NomadicLiving
      @NomadicLiving Před 3 lety +3

      @@xjunkxyrdxdog89 This is only true if you believe its value rests on short term service to the human race. Arrogance rarely pays off in the longer game.

    • @xjunkxyrdxdog89
      @xjunkxyrdxdog89 Před 3 lety +1

      @@NomadicLiving I didn't make an assertion, I asked a question.

    • @asherdie
      @asherdie Před 3 lety +2

      @@NomadicLiving short term service is better than long term uselessness, or being reserved for the elite.

    • @RyTrapp0
      @RyTrapp0 Před 3 dny

      Comparing small, niche racing meets a couple times a year to a full time, decades long mining operation is honestly wild

  • @OpenRoader
    @OpenRoader Před 3 lety +32

    People and Scientists: Please government, we need your help
    Government: Nope, siding with the corporations
    BIG SHOCKER

    • @flakgun153
      @flakgun153 Před 3 lety +2

      BLM makes good money off of it. Why would they care?
      After all the science says it's just climate change

    • @ericochoa4271
      @ericochoa4271 Před 3 lety +1

      Never EVER ask the government for help. They make things worse... always

  • @TheDenisedrake
    @TheDenisedrake Před 3 lety +44

    I suddenly crave salty Lay's Potato Chips.

    • @larrygarcia3992
      @larrygarcia3992 Před 3 lety

      Nice content, but permit me to introduce you a legendary trader who trade for me. I never believed in forex trading but Mr Nicholas make me understand how it works and I give it a try, surprisingly I got my profit of $15,750 I found this honest, I want you all to check Mr Nicholas on Instagram @nicholas__fxtrade tell him I send you.

    • @jleeblackmon5340
      @jleeblackmon5340 Před 3 lety +2

      Sharing is caring

    • @jean-michel_comhaire
      @jean-michel_comhaire Před 3 lety +1

      With the decline of the Salt Flats you're only gonna be able to get Lightly Salted Lays chips

  • @Amy-gc3kb
    @Amy-gc3kb Před 3 lety +1

    I went there a couple years ago. it’s gorgeous and you can see the curvature of the earth. well worth the long drive

  • @Dhumfleet2015
    @Dhumfleet2015 Před 3 lety +1

    It would be awesome to see a video on the Valley of Kings, you really peaked my interest with the recent video on Biographics about Akhenaten! Thanks for all the great content and keep blazing it up!

  • @alovxmas
    @alovxmas Před 2 lety +3

    When they desalinate water in california pump the high salt brine to the salt flats.

  • @thebatman6201
    @thebatman6201 Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks for your work. There are many nights, when im simply exhausted and all i want is a good story

  • @railstop
    @railstop Před 3 lety +1

    Great video, well covered!

  • @iakazul
    @iakazul Před 3 lety

    Thank you for sharing!

  • @AdakStillStands
    @AdakStillStands Před 3 lety

    Thank you for the Curiosity Stream pitch but watching your various videos Simon, leaves me little time to be more curious!

  • @spookyfish24
    @spookyfish24 Před 2 lety +3

    It's humorous to me when you say "Donner-Reed Party" as I hear "Donna Reed party" which would be a completely different experience. :)

  • @stansburygreg
    @stansburygreg Před 3 lety

    Excellent video and history. I live mere miles from there. You did some great research, as usual. I love this channel.

  • @brianlo614
    @brianlo614 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for the vid, ran the 50k race here a few years ago, nice reminder.

  • @mnichols1979
    @mnichols1979 Před 3 lety +17

    So after hearing about the Donner Reed party and hearing about the Donner pass cannibalism stories, remind me to never go on a trip with anyone named Donner.

    • @Games_and_Music
      @Games_and_Music Před 3 lety +2

      also, never trust anyone that loves a Doner.

    • @lordgarion514
      @lordgarion514 Před 3 lety

      The cannibalism rumor was shown to have almost certainly not happened.

    • @mnichols1979
      @mnichols1979 Před 3 lety

      @@lordgarion514 true or not, either way it was a shitty trip.

    • @lordgarion514
      @lordgarion514 Před 3 lety

      @@mnichols1979
      True that. About as shitty as shitty gets.

    • @Egilhelmson
      @Egilhelmson Před 3 lety +3

      Did anyone else hear him call it “the Donna Reed” party, like the Donna Reed Show from the 1950s?

  • @andrewhudson2860
    @andrewhudson2860 Před 3 lety

    Brilliant channel. Thanks for sharing...

  • @Shinobi_Gear
    @Shinobi_Gear Před 3 lety +1

    This is wild, I live in the town next to the salt flats. I worked at the truck stop next to flats that all the racers used for 4 years, Bonneville Spped Week was a huge deal back then.

  • @abbygaby9210
    @abbygaby9210 Před 3 lety +6

    these saltplans remind me of the uyuni one in bolivia, which makes me reiterate my suggestion of a Tiahuanaco episode

  • @vr6swp
    @vr6swp Před 3 lety +71

    Simon failed to mention the curvature of the earth can be seen at Bonneville.

    • @suzykendallosborne
      @suzykendallosborne Před 3 lety +22

      You mean the FLATness of the earth and where it falls off into space?

    • @mannymarin7317
      @mannymarin7317 Před 3 lety +9

      @@suzykendallosborne haha didn’t know the earth was flat ya goon

    • @jleeblackmon5340
      @jleeblackmon5340 Před 3 lety +43

      @@suzykendallosborne yea we really gotta get the word out my sweet sweet granny sadly fell off the side of the earth last year just stepped right off the side tried to tell her it wasnt round she just wouldn't listen RIP granny she was only 127 yrs young had her whole life in front of her, ik your looking down now saying damn it really is flat 💔 (a single tear rolls down my cheek) damn u flat earth and all those misleading round globes in classrooms they are truly the most evil type of propaganda.

    • @ajstevens1652
      @ajstevens1652 Před 3 lety +18

      @@jleeblackmon5340 I wish more people knew about this. I rolled out of bed the other night, nearly fell of the edge of the earth. 😱 Terrifying experience.

    • @suzykendallosborne
      @suzykendallosborne Před 3 lety +8

      @@jleeblackmon5340 I’m sorry that happened and I prey for the loss to your fambly. Let’s try to get the word out so more people don’t have to suffer such loss and tradgedy! RIP granny!

  • @ellenbryn
    @ellenbryn Před 3 lety +1

    Fascinating. And sad! I didn't realize they were going. Thanks as always for an informative video.
    My parents always meant to take me out there when I visited them in Utah, but who knows when I'll be able to do that again. And it's quite a long drive out there from their side of the Salt Lake.

  • @VictorLima-mv4ni
    @VictorLima-mv4ni Před 3 lety +3

    "Hey man, wanna go on a trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats? Some MAD archery goin on"

  • @XLAdvRider
    @XLAdvRider Před 3 lety +1

    Well done commentary on the balance between land management, recreation, industry and nature itself. One lesson I learned early is stay away from a dry lake when it’s wet! Oh and I believe you meant “tourist locale.”

  • @Notlarsenmccleary
    @Notlarsenmccleary Před 2 lety +1

    I’ve swam in the canals, definitely won’t be going back again to do it. But a cool place and it’s really fun!

  • @Topshot_37
    @Topshot_37 Před 3 lety

    As a gear head and racing fan I've always wanted to go and race or even just watch at Bonneville. Its just iconic. But I've also always wanted to go as an outdoorsman and just appreciate it.

  • @jphilb
    @jphilb Před 3 lety

    Glad to say I was able to visit a few years ago. It was March and there was standing water so I did not drive on it. Awesome place.

  • @ReallyWhy123
    @ReallyWhy123 Před 3 lety +2

    Interesting fact is that those canals are still owned by a company, wouldn't have thought that.
    Also all your videos are amazing! Thanks to you and your team for creating them

  • @SoulScream1984
    @SoulScream1984 Před 3 lety +2

    I go through there at least 2-3x a month. The enjoyable part is when after rain people get stuck driving out there.

  • @spdrcr1010
    @spdrcr1010 Před 3 lety +39

    yes, save the salt

    • @thesilentone4024
      @thesilentone4024 Před 3 lety +2

      Thats A lot of salt 🤯

    • @Darndiddlyarn
      @Darndiddlyarn Před 3 lety +1

      I'll donate my sweat to help keep the salt level up.

    • @garretth8224
      @garretth8224 Před 3 lety

      Well yeah. Poisoning the environment is bad no matter where its done.

    • @branon6565
      @branon6565 Před 3 lety

      Andrew Gates .... Nice Power Wagon sittin on the ground, it looks good bro...

    • @xjunkxyrdxdog89
      @xjunkxyrdxdog89 Před 3 lety

      @@garretth8224 "poisoning the environment"
      What are you talking about? How is losing salt "poisoning the environment" ?

  • @mogshade66
    @mogshade66 Před 3 lety +1

    The world's fastest Indian.
    Burt Munro goes to the salt flats with his Indian motorcycle and wins a record in 69.
    It's a true New Zealand story.
    I know him through my grandfather being an engineer/WW1 despatch rider and a classic bike restoration expert.
    Beautiful film.

  • @rubiconnn
    @rubiconnn Před 2 lety +23

    "Do you guys think the salt flats might be damaged by the mining companies literally digging up dozens of square miles the ground and shipping it off?"
    "No, it must be those cars that drive on it. Those tire tracks are worse."

    • @berryreading4809
      @berryreading4809 Před 2 lety +4

      Its neither of those if we can somehow shoehorn the cause as climate change! 🤣

    • @HELLRZR-nm3vv
      @HELLRZR-nm3vv Před 2 lety

      Lol. Nobody is digging up or around the flats. Duh. Kind of funny you arse about this particular mineral extraction, while banging away to do so on something built from carbon/mineral based technology. So woke.

    • @rubiconnn
      @rubiconnn Před 2 lety +4

      @@HELLRZR-nm3vv It literally takes 20 seconds to look on Google maps and find excavation equipment on the salt flats. Go troll someone else.

    • @cybernedlytedlythewise7499
      @cybernedlytedlythewise7499 Před 2 lety +1

      It’s disappearing because of the canals you can’t take the natural water flow that evaporated and leaves salt behind, and think you won’t change the environment... humans

    • @HELLRZR-nm3vv
      @HELLRZR-nm3vv Před 2 lety +1

      @@cybernedlytedlythewise7499 Uh, where do you live in general? Have you ever been close enough to Bonneville to ever view a Red Hat event? Or an incredible sunset literally reflected back at you from the whole of the planet it seems? Just how did you get to be an expert on every environment 'backyard'? In our next good cold snap or mini-glacial. Nobody would remember humans even touched it in a season or two. You and other human business are not nearly as important as you think to this planet. 98% of species that have ever occurred on the Earth are already extinct. We've been here about 2 minutes on a 24 hour Earth time clock. We're just the current top of the evolved keystone species occurring bro. Relax.

  • @Dadbod2019
    @Dadbod2019 Před 2 lety +1

    Something cool is when you do go out there on the off season there are spots that when you step on it it feels a lot like thin ice does on a body of water

  • @rvvanlife
    @rvvanlife Před rokem

    Thank you so much for doing a story on this, the salt Flats used to be a beautiful work of nature

  • @jasminemccullough9230
    @jasminemccullough9230 Před 3 lety +5

    You can't be tired driving over the salt flats, you will fall asleep since it's just flat land for miles, no trees, turns, or hills to keep your attention.

    • @raypitts4880
      @raypitts4880 Před 2 lety

      thats why they put black markers during speed days sat nav ok just a boring white picture.

  • @babel116
    @babel116 Před 2 lety +3

    Utah is my home, it’s sad that the salt flats have decline so much.

  • @peterholzer4481
    @peterholzer4481 Před 3 lety +8

    "fremont period almost 900 years ago ... using tools and farm animals such as ceramics and horses." Somethings not quite right here.

    • @dynomar11
      @dynomar11 Před 3 lety

      Seems grammatically correct

    • @Dinitroflurbenzol
      @Dinitroflurbenzol Před 3 lety +5

      @@dynomar11 there were no horses 900 years ago on the american continents.

    • @ayandas874
      @ayandas874 Před 3 lety

      Dinitroflurbenzol maybe they were riding llamas.

    • @TheChampionp
      @TheChampionp Před 2 lety

      Fremont Indians??

  • @narcisist83
    @narcisist83 Před 2 lety

    Those canals are absolutely beautiful.

  • @wildcat8985
    @wildcat8985 Před 3 lety +4

    The Prices for restoring such small amounts of salt lake are so astronomical.

    • @old8235
      @old8235 Před 3 lety +2

      Restore it to what? Adry lake bed?

  • @ABrit-bt6ce
    @ABrit-bt6ce Před 3 lety +6

    Bonneville featured someone going supersonic in 1997. Still no takers to that record.

    • @sawspitfire422
      @sawspitfire422 Před 3 lety +4

      Thrust SSC broke the land speed record in the Black Rock desert not Bonneville

    • @ABrit-bt6ce
      @ABrit-bt6ce Před 3 lety

      @@sawspitfire422 Indeed. My bad.

    • @OslikusPrime
      @OslikusPrime Před 3 lety

      @@ABrit-bt6ce That must be a Road Runner. They actually discovered dopler effect thanks to his "beep beep". Problem is, that he kept running and did not return for qualification run. So his record was not recognized.

    • @GreenStarTech
      @GreenStarTech Před 2 lety

      I suggest you look up the new record attempt due at Hakskeenpan in South Africa.

  • @Coinbro
    @Coinbro Před 3 lety

    Yeah boy a sight to see it is especially around may when a layer of water reflects the mountains

  • @jphilb
    @jphilb Před 3 lety

    Never new about the archery distance competition. Would love to try out an English 150 lb bow.

  • @xadavalu
    @xadavalu Před 3 lety +2

    Please do one on the "Cueva de los Tayos" and all the claims surrounding the subject.

  • @cuzzintruck2
    @cuzzintruck2 Před 20 dny

    I just visited the Salt Flats, Its an amazing sight.

  • @whimsicalstray
    @whimsicalstray Před 2 lety +3

    "You could put the salt into the car, as a renewable energy source." WTF don't take the salt, it's endangered!😂😂

  • @barrydysert2974
    @barrydysert2974 Před 3 lety

    💜Enumeration and quantification require additional illumination. Thanks for the edification!:-) 💜💜💜🙏💜💜💜

  • @terryhearttea789
    @terryhearttea789 Před 3 lety +1

    Could you do a story on Lake Gairdner salt flats, South Australia? It's our Aussie version of Bonneville. Size 99 miles by 30 miles. Up to 3' 11" thick. Not mined. Lower Altitude. Raced on annually. Little brother to the Bonneville.

  • @RBYU001
    @RBYU001 Před 3 lety +2

    I lived in Utah most of my life, the Salt flats are one of many amazing places in that state to see.

  • @keppscrossing
    @keppscrossing Před 3 lety +6

    The Fremont River is named for John C. Fremont. So the Fremont Culture is indirectly named after John C Fremont, which should have been explained.

    • @nevyen149
      @nevyen149 Před 3 lety +1

      Just found your comment...had posted the same thing myself.

  • @jinx1120
    @jinx1120 Před 3 lety +2

    Driving through the salt flats at night is still one of the most challenging things I've done because of just how completely dark it is.

    • @MountainFisher
      @MountainFisher Před 3 lety +1

      Try it on a clear night and full moon. You can read a book without a light when its like that.

  • @iagosevatar4865
    @iagosevatar4865 Před 3 lety

    Hello. Do you plan somedays to do the mont Saint michel ?

  • @brianjoyce9040
    @brianjoyce9040 Před 3 lety

    A unique and quite remote spot. Wendover is close, but itself remote. All Utah mountains are worth a look see from afar and on skis. Give them a look at your next opportunity.

  • @TheEvilCommenter
    @TheEvilCommenter Před 3 lety +1

    Good video 👍

  • @manicmechanic448
    @manicmechanic448 Před 3 lety +1

    Sounds like I need to get on the salt flats soon.

  • @ticopunkerz
    @ticopunkerz Před 3 lety +9

    The question shouldn't be what caused the problem, instead, what can be done to save the salt flats. Evidently there's a lot more that needs to be done than what is happening now. Imo, the salt flats need to be off limits to motorized vehicles until such time as their damaging effects can be measured.

    • @yes0r787
      @yes0r787 Před 3 lety +1

      That is logical let's hope it will happen.

    • @OslikusPrime
      @OslikusPrime Před 3 lety +1

      Well, there is usually several issues at once, when you are facing a problem. And you can't usualy say, whan can be done to solve the problem, if you don't know what caused it. Trying to solve problem without in depth knowledge is a good recepy for scaling problem up into catastrophe.
      But yes, stop ongoing activities, like mining AND racing should be obvious start, there is nothing to think about that.

    • @ticopunkerz
      @ticopunkerz Před 3 lety

      @@OslikusPrime All good points, and granted I know very little about what's going on there so I shouldn't have commented on it. I'm glad that scientists have identified that a problem exists so at least there's hope of finding a solution. ✌

  • @loupiscanis9449
    @loupiscanis9449 Před 3 lety

    Thank you

  • @speedracer2008
    @speedracer2008 Před 3 lety +1

    The Salt Flats were also a filming location for the BBC documentary Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs special. They’re used in the scene where a pack of Allosaurus hunt a herd of Diplodocus.

  • @--enyo--
    @--enyo-- Před 3 lety +1

    Ha ha, the TopGear episode was the first thing I thought of when I saw this come up too.

  • @homerohomero5563
    @homerohomero5563 Před 3 lety

    About as interesting as watching paint dry, lol!!! How about Mount St Helens, Cave of Crystals in Mexico, Centralia Pennsylvania, Niagara Falls, or Mt Rushmore? Love your Channels Simon!!

  • @guywholikescheese97
    @guywholikescheese97 Před 3 lety

    Video on the Bingham copper mine please!

  • @nevyen149
    @nevyen149 Před 3 lety +2

    11:38 "Despite popular belief, the Fremont Period is not named after the explorer John C. Fremont, but rather after the Fremont River"...except that the river was named after the man.

  • @Acidassassin420
    @Acidassassin420 Před 3 lety

    You should do a video about Lake eyre in Australia, its the lowest point and also a salt flat, takes alot of water to fill and becomes the largest lake in Australia

  • @Dan007UT
    @Dan007UT Před rokem

    Was out there today. It's flooded with the most water I've seen since 2008

  • @ArcFixer
    @ArcFixer Před 3 lety +3

    The Fremont River was named after John Charles Fremont, so certainly the name of the geological period honors Fremont, the man.