Mono Lake

Mono Lake is a special kind of lake in Mono County, California. It is a very old lake, formed more than 760,000 years ago, and it has no outlet where water can flow out. Because of this, lots of salts build up in the lake, making the water very alkaline.

Even though the water is very salty, Mono Lake supports a rich ecosystem. Tiny shrimp called brine shrimp live in the lake and are a main food source for many birds. Every year, about two million birds stop at Mono Lake during their long journeys and eat the shrimp and special flies that live there.

In the past, the native Kutzadika'a people ate the baby flies, called pupae, that live near the shore of the lake. However, things changed when the city of Los Angeles took water away from the streams that feed Mono Lake. This caused the lake level to drop and put the birds in danger. In response, a group called the Mono Lake Committee formed and fought for the lake in court. They won, and Los Angeles had to return some water to help the lake recover.

Geology

Mono Lake is located in the Mono Basin, a special kind of bowl-shaped land that does not let water flow out to the ocean. Because of this, salts from rain and rivers stay in the lake, making the water salty and a bit bitter.

The land around Mono Lake was shaped by powerful forces over the past five million years. Big cracks in the earth’s surface and old volcanic activity helped create the area we see today. Ancient volcanic eruptions left behind layers of rock and created mountains and hills nearby.

One very old lake, called Lake Russell, once covered much more land than Mono Lake does today. Over time, changes in the earth caused the water to shift to other places. The area still has some active volcanic features, showing that the earth beneath is still moving and changing.

Tufa towers

Many tall columns of limestone rise above Mono Lake. These towers are made mostly of a mineral called calcite, which is a type of calcium carbonate. This special kind of limestone is known as tufa.

Mono Lake has very alkaline water, which means it has lots of certain chemicals. Over many years, these chemicals helped form the tufa towers at the bottom of the lake. When the lake’s water level dropped, these towers stood up above the water, creating the beautiful pillars we see today.

Climate

Mono Lake has a special climate that helps it stay alive even in a dry desert area. Because the lake has no outlet, water stays and builds up salts, making the lake very salty and a bit sour. This salty water is home to tiny shrimp that can live comfortably, and these shrimp feed many birds that visit the lake every year. The lake’s unique conditions create a busy, thriving world for animals even in a tough environment.

Limnology

The study of Mono Lake's water shows it holds about 280 million tons of dissolved salts. The amount of salt changes depending on how much water is in the lake. Before 1941, the salt level was about 50 grams per liter. By January 1982, when the lake was at its lowest level, the salt level had almost doubled to 99 grams per liter. By 2002, it was measured at 78 grams per liter and is expected to settle at around 69 grams per liter as the lake gets more water over the next 20 years.

Stopping the water taken from the lake caused a change in how the lake's layers mix. Before this, the lake mixed its deeper and shallower waters yearly, sharing oxygen and nutrients. Now, the deeper waters stay separate and have less oxygen. This change affects the lake's plants and animals. Mono Lake has gone through such periods before, with the latest one starting in 1994 and ending by 2004.

Mono Lake is a closed lake, meaning it has no outlet. Water only leaves when it evaporates or seeps into the ground, which can make the lake very salty. By studying the lake’s past water levels using carbon and oxygen, scientists can learn about past climate changes. During colder times, like ice ages, the lake level was higher because there was less evaporation and more rain. In warmer times, the lake level was lower due to more evaporation and less rain. The lake level has changed many times since the end of the ice ages, with its highest point around 1820 BCE and its lowest modern level in 1980 due to water being taken away.

Ecology

See also: Ecology of California

Aquatic life

The water in Mono Lake is very salty and basic, so no fish live there. Tiny plants called algae grow in the lake and are the base of the food chain. The lake is well known for its tiny shrimp, called Mono Lake brine shrimp, that are only about the size of a thumbnail. These shrimp eat the algae and are an important food source for birds.

Flies called alkali flies live near the shore and swim in the water, protected by small air bubbles. They also provide food for birds.

Birds

Mono Lake is an important place for birds to rest and eat as they travel. Almost two million water birds, including many different kinds of shorebirds, visit the lake each year. Some birds that rely on Mono Lake are American avocets, killdeer, and sandpipers. Large numbers of eared grebes and phalaropes also use the lake during their journeys.

In late summer, many Wilson's phalaropes and red-necked phalaropes arrive to feed before continuing their migration to South America or tropical oceans.

Some birds, like California gulls and snowy plovers, also come to Mono Lake to nest each spring.

History

The indigenous people of Mono Lake are from a band of the Northern Paiute, called the Kutzadika'a. They speak the Northern Paiute language. The Kutzadika'a traditionally gathered alkali fly pupae, called kutsavi in their language.

The city of Los Angeles started taking water from the Owens River in 1913. This caused the level of Mono Lake to drop quickly. By 1982, the lake was much smaller than before. This change hurt the animals that lived there. In 1978, people formed the Mono Lake Committee to help protect the lake. After many years of work, rules were made in 1994 to help protect Mono Lake and its water. Even so, the lake's level is still not as high as it used to be, especially during dry times.

In popular culture

Artwork

In 1968, artist Robert Smithson created a piece called Mono Lake Non-Site (Cinders near Black Point) using pumice from Mono Lake. His wife, Nancy Holt, and Michael Heizer joined him on this visit. In 2004, Nancy Holt made a short film named Mono Lake using old footage and photos from that trip.

A famous photo called The Diver, taken by Aubrey Powell for the band Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here, shows someone diving into a lake with no ripples. This photo was actually taken at Mono Lake, where tall rock towers rise from the water. The effect was made by having the diver stay underwater in a special way until the ripples went away.

In print

The book Roughing It by Mark Twain, published in 1872, describes Mono Lake as it was in the 1860s. Twain wrote that the lake lay in a “lifeless, treeless, hideous desert... the loneliest place on earth.”

In film

One scene from the movie Fair Wind to Java (1953) showing a volcano was filmed at Mono Lake.

Many scenes from the film High Plains Drifter (1973) by Clint Eastwood were shot along the southern shores of Mono Lake. A whole town was built there just for the movie and taken down after filming ended.

In music

The music video for the song "Don't Know What You Got ('Till It's Gone)" by the band Cinderella in 1988 was filmed near Mono Lake.