Another one of my favorite places in the World is Mono Lake, a large lake in the Eastern Sierras of California known for its age (at least 760000 years old, if not older), extreme alkaline waters (pH 10), high salinity (78 g/l) and of course, its unearthy tufa formations, columns of limestone in strange-cave like shapes lining the shores of the lake. These are created by underwater springs in the lake depositing calcium ions, which react with the carbonate ions in the alkaline waters to form calcium carbonate or calcite. These towers gradually build up until they appear above the surface of the waters (helped by the City of Los Angeles attempting to drain the lake for several decades). It is an amazing, strange place to hang out and watch the sun set over the Eastern Sierras.

Another random thing is that the lake is home to alkali flies that feed on algae and bacteria. They somewhat lazily line the shoreline, flying off only when someone is literally about to step upon them. Mono Lake is popular with birds (including ospreys that nest upon the tufas), as well as migratory fowl. Seagulls especially have learned to simply catch their meals by running along the shore with their mouths open and hovering up the flies.

Yael watching the sunset at a tufa (please don't actually sit on the tufas)!

Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Courtesy of  ules!

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46464407/