Before leaving on vacation, I had been planning our schedule. A visit to Mono Lake was on the cards. Pictures of strange looking structures on the edge of the lake had me intrigued and I had to see them in person.
The day dawned with the sun shining brightly, but there was snow in the forecast later in the night. Only on the mountains, we were told, maybe an inch or two.
We set out at about 7 am and in less than 10 minutes, we were ascending up the mountain. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is truly imposing!
Soon , we found ourselves at the west end of the lake at Mono Lake Park. A small drive off the highway led to a parking lot, and a boardwalk trail to the lake. It was here that I first heard the word Tufa.
The boardwalk.
Walking towards the lake, this beautiful structure that I had seen in pictures stood before me! A Tufa tower!
Close up of a Tufa tower.
Mono Lake is a saline lake in a geologically active zone. Tufa towers are limestone (calcium carbonate) deposits formed under water that grow over a period of tens to hundreds of years. Mono lake has several such towers that got exposed only after a decision by the City of Los Angeles in 1941 to divert water from the lake to meet the demands of the city. That action drained the lake to almost half its level. Salinity increased and a wonderfully unique ecosystem started feeling the effects of human interference. That's when the towers became visible.
Driving a few miles further on the way after the boardwalk trail was a visitor center that provided more insight into the history of the lake. It is worth a visit.
Just a short drive from the visitor center is a parking lot to the Mono Lake scenic area.
A hike along the banks of the lake shows a landscape like no other.
While fish are conspicuous by their absence, trillions of brine shrimp are found in the lake and they, along with alkali flies, support a variety of birds. The tiny brine shrimp population thrives on planktonic algae that inhabit the waters.
California gulls are resident birds of the lake.
Tufa or Limestone deposits are in abundance. They are formed by processes explained here.
The black dot on the Tufa tower in the picture is an Osprey.
It was the onset of spring in the area, and the runoff from rains made the lake rich in nutrients, which supports a lavish growth of algae and gives the lake a greenish hue.
Silver Lake
Grant Lake
As we drove up the mountain to get back to South Lake Tahoe, the clouds started to roll in.
The day dawned with the sun shining brightly, but there was snow in the forecast later in the night. Only on the mountains, we were told, maybe an inch or two.
We set out at about 7 am and in less than 10 minutes, we were ascending up the mountain. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is truly imposing!
After about a hundred miles or more, there was a vista point that offered the first view of Mono Lake. A little haze in the sky didn't give a very clear picture, but it looked beautiful! Two islands, the larger Paoha and the darker, smaller Negit can be seen in the center.
Soon , we found ourselves at the west end of the lake at Mono Lake Park. A small drive off the highway led to a parking lot, and a boardwalk trail to the lake. It was here that I first heard the word Tufa.
The boardwalk.
Walking towards the lake, this beautiful structure that I had seen in pictures stood before me! A Tufa tower!
Close up of a Tufa tower.
Mono Lake is a saline lake in a geologically active zone. Tufa towers are limestone (calcium carbonate) deposits formed under water that grow over a period of tens to hundreds of years. Mono lake has several such towers that got exposed only after a decision by the City of Los Angeles in 1941 to divert water from the lake to meet the demands of the city. That action drained the lake to almost half its level. Salinity increased and a wonderfully unique ecosystem started feeling the effects of human interference. That's when the towers became visible.
The lake provides a great resting site for migratory birds and a nesting site for several shore birds and California gulls. At one time when the water levels fell to alarming levels, Negit island became a peninsula and bird nests became easily accessible to predators, causing stress to an established ecosystem.
A committee was formed in 1978 to save the lake. After several years of litigation, the City of Los Angeles allowed the levels of water in the lake to rise. The restoration work continues. You can read about the details here.
I quote the committee's co-founder's words here from the website-
"As Rush Creek and I rambled to Mono Lake, I was struck with how quickly Mother Nature, given the chance, heals the wounds we inflict upon her.... If nature can heal an injured land, it can heal our blighted souls as well. That's why saving Mono Lake is a matter of saving, and healing, ourselves."
-David Gaines
co-founder, Mono Lake Committee
co-founder, Mono Lake Committee
Driving a few miles further on the way after the boardwalk trail was a visitor center that provided more insight into the history of the lake. It is worth a visit.
Just a short drive from the visitor center is a parking lot to the Mono Lake scenic area.
A hike along the banks of the lake shows a landscape like no other.
While fish are conspicuous by their absence, trillions of brine shrimp are found in the lake and they, along with alkali flies, support a variety of birds. The tiny brine shrimp population thrives on planktonic algae that inhabit the waters.
California gulls are resident birds of the lake.
Tufa or Limestone deposits are in abundance. They are formed by processes explained here.
The black dot on the Tufa tower in the picture is an Osprey.
It was the onset of spring in the area, and the runoff from rains made the lake rich in nutrients, which supports a lavish growth of algae and gives the lake a greenish hue.
After Mono Lake, we did the June Lake Loop drive. It is a scenic route with great views of June Lake, Silver Lake and Grant Lake.
June Lake
Silver Lake
Grant Lake
We headed back to Lake Tahoe after a late lunch at Lee Vinings, a nice town near Mono Lake.
On the way, we saw this old courthouse at Bridgeport. A sign on it says it was built in 1880.
On the way, we saw this old courthouse at Bridgeport. A sign on it says it was built in 1880.
As we drove up the mountain to get back to South Lake Tahoe, the clouds started to roll in.
Sure enough, it began to snow!
An exciting finish to a great day!
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