The ‘Dead Sea of Canada’ is five times saltier than the ocean and revered for its healing properties

There’s a lake on the Canadian prairies where the water is so salty that it makes you buoyant, and it’s been referred to as our version of the Dead Sea, minus the trans-Atlantic journey.

Little Manitou Lake, located in south-central Saskatchewan, is a salt lake known for its buoyant properties and reported healing qualities.

The lake is not very large, at 13.3 square kilometres and an average depth of 3.8 metres. Still, its waters are five times more concentrated with salt than the ocean, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, at 180,000 milligrams of dissolved salt per litre.

But while the lake’s high salinity makes it easier for you to float than in freshwater, it’s far less salty than the actual Dead Sea, where the salinity is more than 10 times higher than in the ocean.

Over 1,000 years ago, the lake became saline as evaporation concentrated salts and minerals in the water, which used to be twice as deep as it is now. In addition to salt, it’s rich in minerals, including magnesium and potassium, that have drawn people looking for health benefits.

Since the 19th Century, Indigenous people have brought the sick to the lake. The practice began when some Assiniboine people suffering from smallpox were said to have been healed after drinking and bathing in its waters.

By the 1900s, Little Manitou Lake had become a popular resort destination, with hotels, dance halls, and recreational facilities. However, it dwindled due to the Great Depression.

The area regained popularity in the 1980s, when a new spa was built, and its historic Danceland building was restored, attracting visitors again.

Today, the lake still brings in visitors. In addition to the buoyant lake waters, the Manitou Springs Resort offers a mineral spa with hot, warm, and cool pools, all filled with minerals from the lake. The pools are open year-round, making it an affordable and unique getaway all four seasons.

The area has plenty to offer beyond the water, including parks, golf courses, and a charming, eclectic art gallery with tons of character.

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