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  We're glad to see that our long-time claim that Rozel Point SW is
the blankest U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle has not
been successfully challenged.  I suspect that the same general area may also
be able to claim  to have the biggest short-lived named feature on a
USGS published map.  Check out "Great Salt Lake and Newfoundland
Evaporation Basin" a USGS special  edition from 1987.
  The Newfoundland Evaporation Basin was caused by pumping water from
a too-full Great Salt Lake into the salt flats to the west.  At its
largest it was about 60km long and 30-60km wide.  I'm sure that
larger regions have been under water temporarily ; but have any of these been formally named?
   The basin (known to local wits as Bangeter Bay, after the Governor
who bought the pumps) lasted several years until more typical dry
weather brought down the level of the Great Salt Lake so that it was
not a threat to trans-continental railines and highways.
Barbara Cox        [log in to unmask]
Science and Engineering Division, 159 Marriott Library
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah USA 84112
(801)581-7533      fax (801)585-3464