Photos: California’s Mono Lake

In the past six months, there’s been a lot of news about California’s Mono Lake. From scene-setting travel pieces to more intense discussions about its changing water levels, the lake has gotten plenty of attention. As it should.

For one thing, Mono Lake is just cool. A visit there makes anybody stop and wonder how such an otherworldly place can exist on Earth. This is backed up by rising columns of tufa from the lake’s waters, as well as a toothpaste-white layer of cruddy salt that lines its banks. Throw in pink brine shrimp in its shallow areas and the effects can be truly mesmerizing.

But the saltwater lake is also an important water body ecologically, supporting populations of the shrimp, California gulls that breed there, and coyotes that have likely taken advantage of its drought-affected levels to prey on the gulls.

Like other water bodies in the state, Mono Lake is dealing with less water availability. But its supporters are hopeful that it can transit this rough period in California’s history and come out thriving.

Check out some snapshots of this wonderful, salty lake below (click to enlarge):

The saline waters of Mono Lake help spur the growth of limestone tufa towers. (Credit: Brocken Inaglory via Wikimedia Commons)

Tufa spires in Mono Lake. (Credit: Public Domain via Pixabay)

Mono Lake, California. (Credit: Public Domain)

Mono Lake viewed from the summit of Mount Dana. A land bridge nearly linking Negit Island with the main shoreline sits to the left. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons User Hike395 via Creative Commons 2.0)

The South Tufa area in Mono Lake. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons User King of Hearts via Creative Commons 3.0)

Mono Lake on the California and Nevada border, facing west toward the Sierra Nevada mountain range. (Credit: Flickr User Rick Cooper via Creative Commons 2.0)

Tufa columns in Mono Lake, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. (Credit: Flickr User Chris Streeter via Creative Commons 2.0)

Mono Lake as seen from space. (Credit: NASA Landsat 7 / NASA World Wind via Public Domain)

Mono Lake. (Credit: Public Domain via Pixabay)

Tufa columns in Mono Lake, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. (Credit: Brocken Inaglory via Creative Commons 3.0)

The south tufa area of Mono Lake in California. (Credit: Flickr User Ron Reiring via Creative Commons 2.0)

What do you like about Mono Lake? Are you concerned for its health with California’s ongoing drought? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.