Where you stand now is the management level for Mono Lake—6,392 feet in elevation above sea level. One day, Mono Lake’s water will again reach this level, but ensuring this was a long struggle. In 1976, a group of researchers, including…
Examine the tufa in front of you. What does it remind you of? What does it feel like? Tufa—from the Latin tōphus, meaning “porous rock”—forms underwater. Underneath the lake there are fractures which allow calcium-rich spring water to seep through the…
Can you find these three common plants of the Mono Basin? Rubber Rabbitbrush: Known for its bright green color and vibrant yellow flowers in late summer, this shrub dominates the area. As you walk down the path, look to your left and notice the…
Mark Twain once called Mono Lake the “Dead Sea of California,” but that could not be further from the truth. Mono Lake is a fountain of life—important for over 300 bird species, trillions of endemic brine shrimp, and many other creatures.…
Tap play below to listen on headphones. Welcome to the Mono Basin—a gorgeous, otherworldly landscape with huge, sweeping views of the high desert all around and the magnificent Sierra Nevada above. Mono Lake, this expansive terminal lake which defines this…
Today’s Mono Lake Moment is a quiet, blissful, yet cold meditation by the lake. The green hue in the lake is its winter coat of algae, and the frozen areas directly in front of the camera are freshwater spring puddles—the…
Today’s Mono Lake Moment is a peaceful visit to the shore of Mono Lake, with a few close-ups of tufa and the snowy Sierra in the background. The snow has melted off the road to South Tufa and it is…
Today’s Mono Lake Moment treads lightly on the path from Navy Beach towards South Tufa to reveal the damage from the Beach Fire that burned in August, and reminds viewers to stay on trail to protect the resource and promote…
After a months-long closure, the South Tufa area and Navy Beach have reopened. These two popular visitor locations along Mono Lake’s south shore were closed in mid-August when the Beach Fire was ignited by lightning. The fire was contained after approximately ten days, and…
After a months-long closure, the South Tufa area and Navy Beach will be reopening soon; the exact date is yet to be announced. These two popular visitor locations along Mono Lake’s south shore were closed in mid-August when the Beach…
