Mono Lake CaliforniaMono Lake California is just outside of Yosemite National Park. This is very close to the east entrance of Yosemite's Highway 120. Mono Lake is on Highway 395, just north of the city called Lee Vining.There is a beautiful museum and visitors center here. There is a 20 minute movie you can watch, for free, to learn about the area. There is also a book store and photo gallery to enjoy. Pictures Of Mono Lake Ca Mono Lake is a water basin that has snow capped mountains that rise up 13,000 feet above it. To the west of the basin is the Sierra Nevada Range and to the east are volcano craters. In fact, three sides of the basin are surrounded by volcanic formations. The basin was created by past volcanic activity. The area is considered to be a high desert area. But inside the basin is a unique and fragile ecosystem. The lake is about 60 square miles. There is no outlet for the water in Mono Lake. It is one of the oldest lakes in all of North America. The lake is about a million years old. Mountain streams carry precious mineral water and salts into the lake. The fresh water evaporates from the sun and tons of salt is left in the basin. What is left is water that is 2 1/2 times more salty than ocean waters and eighty times more alkaline than ocean waters. When you are here, you will see a white foam on the waters surface. This is the alkaline in the water. Because the lake is highly concentrated with salt, it is home to trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies. Thus, bringing birds by the millions to feast. There are 80 different bird species that come here. There are thousands of birds here year around. But in July and August there are literally millions of birds here. A bird watchers paradise! The lake is green in the winter because of all the green algae growing in it. But it is the green algae that feed the brine shrimp and the alkali flies. The Paiute Indians that once lived here collected and ate the flies. The brine shrimp are about a 1/2 inch long. They are easy to see from April through October. There is estimated to be 4 trillion shrimp in the lake! What To Do When Your Here Check out the Visitors Center and the museum. You can walk to the Tufa. Plug your nose, because no matter how beautiful it is here, the air and water stink! Remember, the lake is home to 4 trillion shrimp. You can swim in the lake. You'll float nicely because of all of the salt. Canoes and kayaks are allowed on the lake. Tufa Rock Pronounced too-fah, these are the rock formations that you see in the pictures. They are made up of fresh water (calcium) and salty lake water (carbonates). The calcium and the carbonates mix and make a white colored limestone. The result of calcium and carbon mixing is deposits that form tufa rocks. Some of the tufa rocks here are thought to be 13,000 years old. John Muir John Muir loved this basin area. He said, "This is a country of wonderful contrasts, hot deserts bordered by snow laden mountains, cinders and ashes scattered on glacier polished pavement, frost and fire working together in the making of beauty." He knew it was a good thing when he saw Mono Lake California. Mono Lake Lodging The Night Sky Because you are so far from the pollution of city lights, this is a perfect place to enjoy the sky above. Plan on watching the sun go down over the lake and pull up a chair to enjoy the night sky over Mono Lake California. You won't be disappointed. Return From Mono Lake California To Just Whats Outside Yosemite
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