Our Rig

Our Rig
Camping

Monday, August 31, 2015

South Tufa Mono Lake California

Map picture

Benton California hot springs is an old died town that holds one attraction-Hot Springs ,it has 7 rooms and 10 RV spots,each site has his own private hot pool and only this fact made us take a long drive to Benton only to find out that one has to be a guest in the hotel or have a RV site to use the hot pools,no matter what we said nothing made the owners change their mind and we had to turn around and drive back to our C.G.

On the way back we stopped to see this unusual rock formations surrounded with wilderness and mountains.

On The way to Benton Hot Springs CAOn The way to Benton Hot Springs CAOn The way to Benton Hot Springs CAOn The way to Benton Hot Springs CA

At one point we stopped next to wilderness C.G and asked the owner about hot springs in the area , and look what we found, in the middle of nowhere a natural hot pool,what a treat it was (no pictures will follow ,guess why?)

On The way to Benton Hot Springs CA

At 6PM we joined a guided tour at South Tufa in Mono Lake CA.


The reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It also protects the lake surface itself as well as the wetlands and other sensitive habitat for the 1 – 2 million birds that feed and rest at Mono Lake each year.

Mono Lake is a majestic body of water covering about 65 square miles. It is an ancient lake, over 1 million years old -- one of the oldest lakes in North America. It has no outlet.

Throughout its long existence, salts and minerals have washed into the lake from Eastern Sierra streams. Freshwater evaporating from the lake each year has left the salts and minerals behind so that the lake is now about 2 1/2 times as salty as the ocean and very alkaline.

South Tufa Mono Lake CA

If you carefully you will notice an Aspray bird nest  on the high column and the bird sitting on the right one.

South Tufa Mono Lake CASouth Tufa Mono Lake CASouth Tufa Mono Lake CASouth Tufa Mono Lake CASouth Tufa Mono Lake CASouth Tufa Mono Lake CA

Click to enlarge.

We did not let the disappointment in Benton spoil our great day…

No comments: