Mono Lake

Mono Lake is an endorheic salt lake in eastern California. Limestone formations known as tufa towers rise from the water and give the landscape an unusual appearance.

The water body formed roughly 760,000 years ago as an endpoint in a closed basin. Volcanic activity in the area and continuous mineral buildup from springs shaped the appearance of the lake and its surroundings over time.

The Kutzadika'a, a group of Northern Paiute, harvested alkali fly larvae from the shore and traded them with neighboring communities. This practice reflects how people in this region understood and made use of the water's distinct properties.

Several viewing points around the shore allow visitors to see the landscape from different angles. South Tufa offers the shortest path to the limestone formations and is walkable for most people.

The water holds so much salt and minerals that only two main species can live in it: brine shrimp and alkali flies. These two organisms form a simple but working food chain in an environment too extreme for nearly all other life forms.

Location: Mono County

Elevation above the sea: 1,944 m

GPS coordinates: 38.01659,-119.00931

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:23