Known for its diverse landscape, the rich orchard fruit and wine-producing region of Similkameen Valley is also home to ktlil'xw (Spotted Lake), located west of Osoyoos. Here, hundreds of separate mineral pools dot an endorheic lake (one with no drainage) in the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area.

The natural phenomenon is the sacred healing place for the Syilx people, the First Nations of the Okanagan. It is believed each circle has its own medicinal properties and is used to treat everything from skin disease to wounds.

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As one of the most mineralized lakes in the world, ktlil'xw also contains one of the highest concentrations of Epsom salts but is also rich in calcium and sodium sulphates. Although it looks like a body of water during winter and spring, the lake transforms into a magical polka dotted landscape of yellow, blue and green “spots” in the hot summer months when much of the water evaporates. The pools also change in size and colour depending on the time of day and season which affects the amount of evaporation, plus its mineral content.

The lake is rumoured to have been more colourful before minerals were harvested from the site for ammunition manufacturing during World War I. To safeguard ktlil'xw from further changes and development, the land surrounding the waters was acquired by the federal government in 2001 for the benefit and use of the Okanagan Nation.

Because it’s a protected cultural and environmental site, ktlil'xw is not accessible to the common public, however photographic opportunities are permitted from a viewpoint along Highway 3, about 10 kilometres (six miles) west of Osoyoos. Be mindful of the traffic if you do plan to stop at the site.