Image: Owens Lake, California
Description: This astronaut photograph highlights the mostly dry bed of Owens Lake and lower Owens River, located in the southern Owens Valley between the Inyo Mountains (upper left) and the Eastern Sierra Nevada (bottom). Shallow groundwater, springs, and seeps support minor wetlands and a central brine pool. Two bright red areas along the margins of the brine pool indicate the presence of halophilic (salt-loving) organisms known as archaeans. Gray and white materials within the dry lake bed are exposed sediments and salt crusts. The nearby towns of Olancha and Lone Pine are marked by the presence of green vegetation, indicating a more constant availability of water. The Alabama Hills are below Lone Pine (lower left).
Title: Owens Lake, California
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
Author: ISS Expedition 28 crew
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No
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