A Fresh Home Next to a Salty Lake
Look up at the sky in northern Utah. You might see thousands of birds flying together! They are heading to a special place called the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Why do so many birds stop here? To find out, we have to look at the water.
The refuge sits right next to the Great Salt Lake. As its name tells you, the Great Salt Lake is full of salt. Much of the lake is very salty. Fish cannot live in its open, salty water, but tiny brine shrimp and other living things can.
However, the Bear River flows down from the tall mountains. It brings fresh water toward the salty lake. Right before the river meets the lake, the fresh water spreads out over the flat land. It makes wide, shallow ponds and muddy marshes.
These fresh marshes are a part of the big lake ecosystem, but they are very different from the salty water. Because the river water is fresh, green marsh plants can grow thick and tall. Bulrushes and cattails poke up above the water.
The fresh water also holds lots of food. Frogs, small fish, and water bugs swim in the shallow ponds.
- refuge:
- A safe place where animals can find shelter and protection.
- shallow:
- Not deep; having only a little bit of water.
- marshes:
- Areas of soft, wet, muddy land with lots of grasses and reeds.
- ecosystem:
- All the living things and nonliving things that work together in one area.
- survive:
- To stay alive.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge located?
- 2Why can't fish live in the open water of the Great Salt Lake?
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About this explanatory article passage for Lower Elementary
“A Fresh Home Next to a Salty Lake” is a explanatory article reading passage about Wetland Habitats and Migratory Birds, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (307 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.