#63287: Soap Lake

Naturally occuring foam along the shore may be what gave Soap Lake its name. Soap Lake is 'meromictic' meaning the water is stratified into layers that do not mix with each other. The layer of water near the bottom of the lake is supersaturated with minerals that were first identified for their healing characteristics by the Plateau Indians of the region. Nowadays people travel to Soap Lake to 'take the waters' and to observe the unusual birds that find the lake's characteristics beckoning. The town is becoming a favorite with artists and performers also.