Magic Towers of Mono Lake

Mono Lake is a shallow salt body of water located in a desert area on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The lake does not have access to the ocean, which is why a lot of salt accumulates in its water. As a result, fish do not live in Mono Lake, but a lot of Artemia (a genus of crustaceans from the class of branchiopods) lives here. Over two million migratory birds use Mono Lake as a place to stop and rest on their way south. They feed on numerous brine shrimp, lay their eggs here and raise offspring.

But the most unusual feature of Mono Lake is its majestic tufa towers sticking out of the water…

(Total 17 photos)

1. These towers are formed when calcium-rich underwater springs mix with carbonate-rich lake waters.

2.

3. As a result, limestone is formed.

4. Over time, the accumulation of limestone forms these towers, and when the water level in the lake drops, the towers “come out” to the surface.

5. However, the drop in water levels was not a natural phenomenon. It began in 1941 when the city of Los Angeles began tapping into the groundwater that used to feed Mono Lake.

6. So much water from the lake was used that its level dropped by 13 meters.

7. By 1982, the lake had shrunk to 15,252 hectares, losing 31% of its area as measured in 1941.

8. As a result, saline sands and tuff towers that were once under water came out, and a land bridge was formed between the coastline and the island.

9. The lake served as the main breeding ground for many migratory birds.

10. Until today, the island was a safe place, protected by waters on all sides, but the appearance of a land bridge made it possible for predators such as coyotes to come to the island. They feed on the eggs and chicks of local bird colonies, which is why birds are less likely to fly here.

11. In addition to migratory birds, several other species also winter here, including California gulls.

12. After the land bridge to Negit Island came to the surface in the late 70s, gulls also moved to neighboring islets and established new, less protected nesting sites.

13. A 1988 study predicted that if Mono Lake were allowed to dry out, then by 1999 its salinity would increase to a critical level where shrimp and crustaceans could not live in it.

14. Finally, by 2012 the existing ecosystem of the lake could completely stop functioning due to the increased salinity of the lake.

15. Based on a 1994 report, the California State Board of Resources Control issued an executive order to protect Mono Lake.

16. The goal of the program is to return the lake to the level of 1948 m above sea level.

17. As of July 2012, Mono Lake has reached an altitude of 1945 m above sea level, but due to frequent droughts in the region, this goal is increasingly difficult to achieve.