Mono Lake and It’s Lunar Landscape
Mono Lake was about 10 miles off of our route during our American Road Trip. We had just come from Yosemite National Park and witnessed a beautiful landscapes there and were in the mood for more. We had heard that giant monoliths jut out of the water at Mono Lake making for interesting rock formations off the shore. We had to see this lunar landscape for ourselves.
The alien landscape of Mono Lake, California
Mono Lake Story
At one time, this lake flourished, but it was in the 1940′s that Los Angeles started diverting water from six mountain streams in the mono basin. This lake is a spring fed lake that has no outlet. Over time the water simply evaporated. These giant rock formations were actually underground Springs that had become petrified. The lake shrank to half its volume and dropped 50 vertical feet! It left these springs exposed and since no more water was feeding them, they dried up and solidified.
These rocks are almost alien like and you feel as if you are on the moon. But if we were underwater and having a look at them, we’d see water swirling out like vegetable oil churning in the salty water. Yes, mono lake is a salty lake and like the Dead Sea, if you swim in it, you will float.
There aren’t any facilities to wash off after swimming in Mono Lake, so we chose not to. I remember how much the Dead Sea stung my skin and it wasn’t a comfortable feeling. We couldn’t wait to rinse off while in Jordan. With Mono Lake being out in the middle of nowhere, we didn’t want to have to sit in the car for a couple of hours to find a place with fresh water. Instead, we enjoyed the beauty of these rocks and felt satisfied in knowing that the water to Mono Lake has been diverted back, and since 1993, the water has been rising and the wildlife has been flourishing.
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Lunar landscape always reminds me of one place in particular: Kappadokya! (Or is that Martian landscape?)
Martian, Lunar, whichever you like;)
Wow, that photo blew me away! My cousins from California always talk about Mono Lake and how I should definitely see it the next time I go back! They love it there and I see why!
That’s cool that your cousins like it too. It’s a very interesting location and it would be cool to bring a canoe and paddle around the lake. I’d like to bring a big barrel of water with me so that I could swim next time and then rinse off.
I also remember how much the Dead Sea stung! I had horrible bug bites up my leg and it was painful, so I probably wouldn’t have gone swimming here either. I’ve never heard of Mono Lake but what a beautiful capture
Ooh, that must have killed your bug bites, but it probably helped to heal them quicker. If they had a place to rinse off I’d be right in there. It’s the coolest sensation to be able to float. But to have to get into a car afterwards and sit in discomfort, no way.
Wow! This really looks like an alien place. Loved the captures and also the history of the place. I visited it through your eyes
Thanks Arti, so glad we could bring it to life for you.
Though it’s salty and like dead sea but it’s natural beauty is very attractive. Thanks for nice picture.
It is quite beautiful isn’t it Clay. Just like the Dead Sea, a lake sitting in the middle of a dry and desert like landscape makes for a spectacular scene.
Beautiful shot! I did a quick video pan of Mono Lake if anyone is interested in see it… http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/mono-lake/
Thanks for the video Mike, I’ll take a look when we get home.
Amazing picture. I can’t believe I’ve never even heard of this place. And I used to live in the southwest.
I have a feeling Mono Lake isn’t highly publicized. We found out about it through out Intrepid Travel book with suggested stops on our road trip. There aren’t a lot of people there and there aren’t any facilities. Just signs explaining what the lake is all about and a nice walking trail through the shrubs and trees out towards the lake. I think that it may soon become a popular spot. I can’t understand why it hasn’t turned into a Dead Sea like resort.
I had no idea that you could float in lakes a la the Dead Sea?! Thought the Dead Sea had the monopoly on that one! Gorgeous photo, by the way – never heard of Mono Lake before, so thanks for sharing
Hey Tom, so did we actually. I was surprised to read about it. but yes, there are other lakes out there like the Dead Sea with Mono Lake being just like it. I am going to have to do some research on other lakes that you can float in.
Beautiful spot and an interesting story.
Thanks Stephanie. It’s nice to see that they are working on bringing back the eco system. It may be a high sodium lake, but there are still certain species that live in it and feed on it’s shores.
Wow, that photo of Mono Lake looks like something from a different planet! What an image!
You said it Jeannie. It’s definitely like another planet.
Great photo and what a cool place, like a couple of other people I had no idea that Mono lake existed and I am for sure including it in my travel plans for the future
It’s not on the tourist radar that is for sure. We only knew about it from our Intrepid Travel Road guide and there aren’t any facilities there either. I think you either know about it or you don’t, but it is definitely worth the detour.
Looks like its a mysterious place. But I wanna be there and witness how beautiful that place is!
It’s a very cool place to witness and even better, it’s only an hour or so away from Yosemite, so you can make that your vacation with this as your pitstop.
These are awesome! Petrified springs – such nice formations
Thanks Andrea. It was a surprising destination. When we saw the suggestion, we had to go.
Wow…what a wonderful place to visit! There are so many beautiful places in the states to see that have so much history like Lunar Lake. It does kind of look like you are on another planet. Do you know how long the drive is from Yosemite?
Sally