September 19, 2009 - Mono Lake

Post date: Oct 21, 2009 8:02:00 PM

Mono Lake is over 1,000,000 years old! It is one of America's oldest lakes, and is located on the eastern side of the Sierra Mountains. This salty inland sea is best known for its striking tufa towers. The limestone spires were created when springs bubbled up through the alkaline water. Mark Twain called Mono Lake the "Dead Sea of the West". Although it is dead to fish, the lake has abundant life. Trillions of brine shrimp fill its waters, and millions of migratory and nesting birds come to feast on its shrimp.

Seagulls like to eat brine flies along the shore of the lake. They can be seen running with their mouths open to scoop up the flies! One banded seagull has returned to the lake every summer for the past 27 years!