Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

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Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve guards one of the oldest lakes in North America. At least 760,000 years old, what makes Mono Lake truly unique is what has happened in the following eons. With no outlet, salt and other minerals have built up in the lake waters. The high concentration of minerals formed odd limestone spires, and the water is now about 2.5 times saltier than the ocean. While Mark Twain called the lake a “lifeless, treeless, hideous desert”, there’s a surprisingly productive ecosystem revolving around its alkali flies and endemic brine shrimp. These little critters in turn support over 300 bird species. Along with the tufa formations and birdwatching, Mono Lake has one more draw: swimming! If you’ve ever wanted to experience super-buoyancy, this is your chance! Just remember to hit the showers after to wash off all that salt.