Blue Lake (Utah)
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| Blue Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Utah, United States |
| Coordinates | |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 4300 ft |
Blue Lake is large geothermal pond located about 16 miles south of Wendover, Utah at . The lake is 60 feet deep and at an elevation of 4300 feet above sea level. It is located on land that is part of the Wendover Range, owned by the United States Air Force, but the lake and its immediate surroundings are publicly-accessible wetlands managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM permits public access and use but does not permit the erection of any permanent structures.
[edit] Scuba diving
Blue Lake is a very popular spot for Utah and Nevada divers and is very heavily used on the weekends for dive training, since it is warm year-round and reasonably clear. Other nearby high-mountain lakes are clear but cold even in early fall and lower, warmer waters tend to be very murky. Blue Lake's constant high-volume flow of clear springwater provides underwater visibility of up to 40 feet at (rare) times, and year-round bottom temperatures of approximately 85°F. Surface temperatures vary from the high 60s in winter to the high 70s in summer.
The lake is full of warm-water fish, mostly bass and bluegill, and diving enthusiasts have placed a number of objects on the bottom to add interest. The objects include several large metal sculptures of marine animals, several boats and even a chair and television set. Another attraction for divers is the ever-bubbling hot springs at the bottom.
Late fall is probably the best time to visit the lake, since the summer algal bloom (which cuts visibility to around six feet but isn't severe enough to damage the other marine life) has died off and the above-water insects are gone, but the temperatures are still fairly comfortable in the daytime. Early spring is also nice. In the winter the lake is clear and still very warm, but freezing air temperatures dissuade casual visitors.
