Spotted Lake contains high concentrations of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate, and smaller amounts of other minerals including silver and titanium. During summer, water evaporates and minerals precipitate, forming separate pools with different chemical concentrations. The pools' colors reflect their chemistry: yellow pools are high in sodium sulfate; green and blue pools contain magnesium sulfate; the mineral crusts between pools are calcium and magnesium salts. Each summer creates a different pattern; each rain redistributes the minerals. The lake is chemistry made visible.

The Syilx Okanagan people have known Spotted Lake as Kliluk for thousands of years. The mineral-rich waters were used for healing - bathing in the pools, applying the muds, using the salts medicinally. The site was ceremonially important; stories connected it to supernatural events. When European colonizers arrived, they recognized the lake's commercial potential but not its sacred significance. The minerals were considered valuable; the cultural meaning was ignored. For over a century, non-Indigenous ownership meant the Syilx could not fully access their sacred site.

European exploitation of Spotted Lake began in the late 19th century. During World War I, the lake was mined for minerals used in explosives manufacturing. Later owners promoted various commercial schemes: a spa, a mining operation, development proposals. Ernest Smith, who owned the lake from the 1970s, wanted to build a resort; the Syilx fought for decades to prevent it. The conflict between commercial exploitation and cultural preservation defined the lake's 20th-century history. Neither side was willing to compromise until circumstances changed.

In 2001, the Syilx Okanagan Nation purchased Spotted Lake from Ernest Smith for $720,000, raised through government grants and private donations. The purchase returned sacred land to its traditional stewards. The tribe has since limited access: visitors can view the lake from a pullout on Highway 3, but entering the site is prohibited. Fences and signs enforce the restriction. Some tourists resent being kept away; the Syilx consider protection necessary after centuries of exploitation. The land is healing; so is the relationship.

Spotted Lake is located 10 kilometers west of Osoyoos, British Columbia, on Highway 3. A roadside pullout provides viewing access; binoculars help. The lake is on private Indigenous land; do not enter, climb fences, or approach the lake. Violation is trespassing and disrespects the site's sacred status. The spots are most dramatic in summer when evaporation is highest; by late summer, many pools dry completely. Photography is permitted from the highway. Osoyoos has full services including hotels, restaurants, and the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, which provides Indigenous perspectives on the region. Respect the boundaries; respect the meaning.