Salt Lake's Big Hole

Love the shot Jeff, but tell me more about it. I'm assuming you were flying at the time, but what kind of mine is it? Are those settling ponds I see on the right side?

Hank:

The mine is Kennecott's very productive copper mine in the Oquirrh Mountains, which parallel the Salt Lake City Valley. The mine is so big, it can be seen from space. Flying into Salt Lake is beautiful (when there is not an inversion), except for this, which I never have gotten used to. It doesn't seem to bother the locals though. There are no plans to stop digging. The pit and fill piles sure don't look very stable!

Being in a mountain range formed by uplift, it really makes me wonder about the results from a future earthquake! Cyanide laced waters from settling ponds would be devastating if dumped into the streams and rivers that run through the gaps between all those peaks.

The half-snow of this shot really makes it for me Jeff, over and above the same setting entirely snow covered or with no snow at all. It's perfect framing and perfect "moment" for illustrating the pit.

Congrats on the EP!
Sandy r

Thanks Hank and Sandy!

Cool aerial shot, I had no idea this existed.

Funny though...without copper mines, this photo would have never been...