Show CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Great Salt Lake has been gin importgmt factor in the development of the Fsir West Rocky Mountain trappers explored it in search of beaver streams to California-boun- d it was a serious barrier that had to be emigrants With the coming of the Mormons to Utah the lake began to assume economic value salt was extracted from its brine boats were launched on its waters and its islands were occuby-pas- sed pied and used chiefly as grazing lemds Even before its discovery by white men Great Salt Lake (or a lake believed to be located in the interior basin region) occupied an important place in the minds of explorers and writers Since nothing definite was known of the lake fallacious information was circulated about it and the rivers that supposedly fed andor drained it Numerous myths and legends grew up concerning this body of water many of which were still in circulation half a century after its discovery and exploration Earliest contacts with the lake led to a great deal of interest in it and resulted in the formation of private as well as government expeditions to explore much and survey it of Great Salt Lake history that has received adequate treatment is that of its geological develop- The only phase |