Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Virtual tours of Mono Lake are available for classes

This time of year I am usually at the shore of Mono Lake sharing the ecological wonders of the Mono Basin with students from near and far. These days the shore is empty as classes have transitioned to distancing learning and we are not encouraging people to visit Mono County. That doesn’t mean, however, students cannot virtually visit Mono Lake for a field trip.

Through virtual tours, Lead Naturalist Guide Nora Livingston can bring Mono Lake to viewers who want to connect to Mono Lake from the safety of their homes. Photo by Rose Nelson.

While classes may not be able to smell the briny lake nor feel the wind, they can hear the birds and see Mono Lake from the safety of their homes. Topics covered during the virtual tours include the geology of Mono Basin, the food web of Mono Lake, the history of water diversions, and more. Until it is safe for classes to visit, we hope to bring Mono Lake to as many people as possible.

If you or anyone you know would like to schedule a virtual tour or get more information about curriculum, please contact me. In the meantime, thank you for staying at home and we look forward to welcoming you back when it is safe to do so.

Virtual tours are available on many topics about Mono Lake and its ecology, geology, and history. Photo by Rose Nelson.