Dirty air-September 27, 2011

We started out this morning to see the Bingham Mine. After an endless detour, we got to a point on the road up the side of a mountain where they had pulled a huge chain link gate across it with a note that said "closed". No reason, just closed. So, we wandered around all of the mining area (gold, silver and copper). I wanted to see as much of the Great Salt Lake as I could. The gift shop there was closed also. We're not doing well at this point, are we? We stopped at a pull off to take pictures of the lake. The pollution was so bad that the lake as huge as it is, was barely visible. What a disappointment. I took a picture and it is dreadful. The mining industry is huge here and very obviously a major part of the economy, so no one is going to try to stop it because of a problem with pollution. But at some point, residents have to come to understand you cannot live as long a life while breathing air that is constantly laden with particulates. I feel sorry for the kids. The huge industrial buildings are the largest we have ever seen. No doubt they contribute to the lack of clean air, too. Just being outside makes you want to run inside and shower. The air here is dirtier than Denver's air was a few years ago when they were second only to Los Angeles. So some of you know what I mean. Our last stop was at The Gateway, a tiny shopping and living complex in downtown SLC where we had lunch. Now we're inside breathing cleaner air.               Happy Birthday, Derrick!