A little known fact…there’s an island out in Utah Lake! Well, it’s nothing that the family in the classic tale Swiss Family Robinson or Gilligan and his friends would envy. But it is a unique feature in the lake, made more visible when the lake level is low like it is now (currently 3 feet below the full level). You can see it on this Google Maps link. As you zoom out, you can see that it is just a couple miles north of Lincoln Beach, a park that Utah County maintains. It’s just a large travertine structure that has been created over many, many years from deposits left behind from underwater springs and is apparently a great place for birds to hang out. There are often fishermen who can be found fishing in the shallow areas as well.
While taking some of the members of the Provo Municipal Council out on the boat last month to show them some of the projects the Commission is working on, we took a swing by the infamous Bird Island to see if it’s name held true. What we saw were hundreds of birds making all sorts of noise! We got some video, and if you look closely, you’ll be able to see them and the island. If you head out that direction, you’ll need to be careful. Despite staying a safe distance from the island in almost four feet of water, there was an outcrop that we hit, damaging our propeller. We made it back safely, but had to putter in at about 4-5 knots…it was a great time to become acquainted with one another!
Do you know of any relatively obscure features the lake has? Let us k now in the comments.
Photo Credit: bigfishtackle.com
Four of us spent a miserable night on Bird Island after our boat was swamped out from under us. We were searched for all night by the Sheriff’s and loved ones. I was 7 months pregnant at the time. We were rescued the next morning by the Sheriff’s launch. Everyone was happy. Made the front page of the Provo Herald. June 26, 1959