Just north of Mammoth Lakes lies Mono Lake. Lake many California lakes, its nothing like its blue hydrogen brethren on the continent, because of its location, there is no outlet for the water, making it an alkaline basin as the water evaporates. Since Los Angeles started pumping water from the Antelope Valley and beyond, the water level at Mono has dropped considerably during the course of the last century. Parts of the lake that were submerged are now exposed, and that includes the Tufa columns made up of a limestone like material formed by gaseous emissions from geological formations below the lake mixing with compounds in the water.These Tufa make for a dramatic sight. The place is another planet. If that wasn’t enough a new form of life was discovered here that exists nowhere else. Its prime molecular structure is based on arsenic, not carbon like the rest of earth life. Brave new world.

In a few years the Tufa will disappear as the water levels rise. Catch them while you can.

 

Tags: HDR, Infrared, Mono Lake, Tufa