Sitting off the 395 Highway in the city of Lee Vining is the majestic Mono Lake. It is 12 miles long, with 43 miles of shoreline, and is said to have been formed 760,000 years ago.
The top two words that come to mind when we think of this place is scenic and stinky! Mono is a photographer’s heaven with tons of picturesque landscaping, but it also reeks of ammonia and sulfur. Let us just say we were glad to be visiting in the midst of a pandemic where masks were mandatory. Our face coverings helped to mask the odor. #nopunintended.
This lake is 2.5 times as salty and 80 times as alkaline as the ocean. Due to the nature of its harsh chemistry, the ecosystem at Mono is quite limited. Fish cannot survive in these waters, but there is a large population of brine shrimp and alkali flies. This may sound quite unpleasant, but it does create the perfect spot for some incredible bird sightings. Millions of migratory birds travel these waters to rest and fuel up so they can continue their seasonal journeys.
Perhaps the most prominent part of Mono Lake is its Tufa towers. These columns of limestone, also known as calcium carbonate, are formed underwater when spring water mixes with alkaline lake water. Essentially, freshwater bubbles up from the soda lake floor and the minerals in the lake water react to it, creating the pillars.
In our opinion, Mono Lake is a unique photo opportunity and something that everyone should see at least once, but we did not feel the need to make a day out of it. You are permitted to boat here, but Mono Lake does not offer fishing or water sports, so it felt like a little walking and a few snap shots were sufficient for us.
Smell you later,
TnT