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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature; Sites by State >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> California >> Mono Lake and Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area – California tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mono Lake and Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area – California

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.
High clouds over Negit and Paoha Islands in Mono Lake
High clouds over Negit and Paoha Islands in Mono Lake 		The Sierra Mountain Range looms over the Tufa (tower formations) in Mono Lake
The Sierra Mountain Range looms over the Tufa (tower formations) in Mono Lake		 The high alkaline concentrated waters and a large South Tufa island in Mono Lake
The high alkaline concentrated waters and a large South Tufa island in Mono Lake		 Tufa along the shore in the South Tufa area of Mono Lake
Tufa along the shore in the South Tufa area of Mono Lake		 The Sierra Mountain Range in the distance highlights the Tufa at Mono Lake
The Sierra Mountain Range in the distance highlights the Tufa at Mono Lake
Large Tufa island near the shore of Mono Lake
Large Tufa island near the shore of Mono Lake		 Tall Tufa formations on the shore of Mono Lake
Tall Tufa formations on the shore of Mono Lake		 Shore line Tufa formations jut into Mono Lake
Shore line Tufa formations jut into Mono Lake		 Large Tufa formation on the shore of Mono Lake
Large Tufa formation on the shore of Mono Lake		 Land locked Tufa formations found around Mono Lake
Land locked Tufa formations found around Mono Lake
Tufa formations on shore and in Mono Lake
Tufa formations on shore and in Mono Lake		 Clouds cap a Tufa formation in Mono Lake
Clouds cap a Tufa formation in Mono Lake		 An Osprey tends to its baby chick in a Tufa top nest on Mono Lake
An Osprey tends to its baby chick in a Tufa top nest on Mono Lake		 The alkaline waters and a Tufa island in Mono Lake
The alkaline waters and a Tufa island in Mono Lake		 The top of a Tufa formation at Mono Lake
The top of a Tufa formation at Mono Lake
Tufa formations stretch into the alkaline waters of Mono Lake
Tufa formations stretch into the alkaline waters of Mono Lake		 Violet-Green Swallow on top of a Tufa at Mono Lake
Violet-Green Swallow on top of a Tufa at Mono Lake		 Flowering plant in the desert surrounding Mono Lake
Flowering plant in the desert surrounding Mono Lake		 Sea Gull floating on the water in Mono Lake
Sea Gull floating on the water in Mono Lake		 Limestone rocks and the alkaline water in Mono Lake
Limestone rocks and the alkaline water in Mono Lake
Clouds over a landlocked Tufa Formation at Mono Lake
Clouds over a landlocked Tufa Formation at Mono Lake		 Close up of a Tufa formation at Mono Lake
Close up of a Tufa formation at Mono Lake		 Flowers blooming in the Mono Basin around Mono Lake
Flowers blooming in the Mono Basin around Mono Lake		 Panum volcanic crater in the Mono Basin to the south of Mono Lake
Panum volcanic crater in the Mono Basin to the south of Mono Lake		 The Mono Craters in the Mono Basin to the south of Mono Lake
The Mono Craters in the Mono Basin to the south of Mono Lake

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Thomas Walker 09-Jul-2019 10:38
Fascinating stuff; I'm guessing Mono Lake doesn't host many bass tournaments.
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