The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California and it is huge - 35 some odd miles long, 15 miles wide, 100+ miles of shoreline. It occupies a basin -227 below sea level that was once part of the Gulf of California but it has been separated from the Gulf due to silt deposited by the Colorado River. Alternately over the course of millions of years the Colorado River would change course and instead of emptying into the Paciific Ocean, it would instead empty into the Salton Sea Basin or Salton Sink. When it did large lakes would form but eventually evaporate when the river changed course again and emptied into the ocean. Lake Cahuilla was the name of the last large lake that occupied this area previous to the current one. The Cahuilla Indians thrived along its shores. But by the time the first Spanish explorers came across this area Lake Cahuilla had evaporated. It was a dry land until the early 1900's when the Colorado River again jumped its banks and decided to empty into the sink once again. Thus the Salton Sea was born. But enterprising people cut off the flow of water off because it had covered railroad lines and salt factories. So now, about a hundred years later, and following the course of eons, there are concerns about the lake evaporating again. In fact it was one of Sonny Bono's dying wishes to save the Salton Sea. Save it from time, I guess.
Today many people like to go fishing, boating, camping, and birdwatching at the lake. There are several commercial marinas on its western shore and a state recreation area on its eastern. In the south is the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. One of the gravest concerns of Sonny's was that if this lake were to dry up many species of birds along the Pacific Flyway would be in dire straits. In the past few years, though, the level of the water has been rising due to agricultural run-off. The Imperial Valley to the south capitalizes on the rich silt the Colorado River deposited over thousands of years and many crops are grown here and are irrigated by the Colorado River. So in a roundabout way the Colorado River is still filling up the lake.
Todd and I spent Saturday night at Mecca Campground, one of several on the western shore. Our camp was steps from the beach and as such we enjoyed watching sunset, sunrise, and the thousands of pelicans, herons, egrets, geese, coots, gulls, terns, and other birds that call this place home. I took out Grandpa's kayak for a spin and was able to sneak up on several birds for up close shots. The air was perfectly calm and warm but not hot on Saturday making for very enjoyable kayaking. At times with the perfect reflections I felt like I was kayaking across the sky. And surprising to me I did not see a single other boat on that huge expanse of water.
On Sunday we drove down to the wildlife refuge and I walked out to Rock Hill. After climbing this little volcanic butte I realized I still wasn't above sea level. And in the distance seeing mountains rising to 10,000 and 11,000 feet and in the foreground a huge lake teeming with birds, well, it is definitely a spectacular and unique place.
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