Images of Mono Lake and Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area – central California, taken in June 2019.

Mono Lake located on the east side of the Sierra Mountain Range is, at 750,000 years old, one of the oldest lakes in North America. Having no outlet water comes into Mono Lake and evaporates leaving mineral deposits behind. Because of this process the lake is high in salt content which is in part responsible for the unique tower formations called Tufa. Paoha Island erupted only 325 years ago and hot springs and steam vents indicate that the area is still active.

The lake itself is administered as a California State Park with control of the surrounding Mono Basin being run by the National Forest Service. In 1984, this area was designated as the nation’s first National Forrest Scenic Area to protect the resources of the Mono Basin. Included here are the Mono Craters which make up the youngest mountain range in North America. The northernmost crater in the range, Panum Crater erupted only 650 years ago.