description Spiral Jetty Overview
Spiral Jetty is a work of land art created by American artist Robert Smithson in 1970 on the northeastern shore of Utah's Great Salt Lake. Built from basalt rock, earth, salt crystals, and water, it forms a large counterclockwise coil extending from the shoreline. Its appearance changes as lake levels, salt deposits, and weather conditions shift, connecting the work to Smithson's interest in geology, entropy, landscape, and time.
insights Ranking position
Spiral Jetty ranks #1 of 185 in the Geoglyph ranking, ahead of The Hummingbird.
help Spiral Jetty FAQ
Why does Spiral Jetty sometimes disappear underwater?
Robert Smithson built the work at Great Salt Lake, whose shoreline and water level change substantially over time. The spiral can become submerged, re-emerge, or acquire a white salt crust depending on lake conditions.
What materials did Robert Smithson use for Spiral Jetty?
Smithson formed the coil from basalt rock, earth, salt crystals, and material gathered at the lakeshore. Built in 1970, it extends from the shore into Utah's Great Salt Lake.
Why is Spiral Jetty associated with entropy?
Smithson was interested in processes of disorder, geological time, decay, and transformation. Erosion, salt accumulation, changing water, and visitor movement continually alter the work instead of leaving it as a fixed museum object.
Can visitors walk onto Spiral Jetty?
When water levels and ground conditions permit, visitors can walk along the basalt coil at Rozel Point. The site is remote, so road conditions, weather, lake levels, and the lack of nearby services should be checked before traveling.
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