Mono Lake Facts for Kids

Mono Lake is a saline lake on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, in the U.S. state of California. It is endorheic, meaning that it does not connect with the sea. It is fed by streams flowing off the east side of the mountain range, including Rush Creek, Lee Vining Creek and Mill Creek. Lee Vining Creek has its headwaters near Tioga Pass, near Yosemite National Park.

The lake covers 69 square miles (180 square kilometers) and is about 4.7 miles (7.6 km) long. It is a very ancient lake, and is thought to have formed 760,000 years ago. In the 20th century, the city of Los Angeles began to take water from the streams feeding Mono Lake. This caused the lake to fall, exposing unique tufa formations.

Images for kids

Landsat image of Mono Lake
The red line represents the δ18O of a water mixture between lake water and riverine freshwater that depends on the fraction of lake water to riverine freshwater.
In a closed lake system like Mono Lake, coupled evaporation and CO2-degassing progresses will cause the lake water δ18O and δ13C (carbon and oxygen isotopes) to increase. During stable low stands or high stands, there is no correlation between δ13C and δ18O. Importantly, a transformation to an open lake system may also cause δ13C and δ18O to become uncorrelated. Following increased precipitation and surface runoff, the δ18O and δ13C will decrease.
Mono Lake's "South Tufa" area
Large numbers of alkali flies at Mono Lake
Artemia monica, the Mono Lake brine shrimp
A female Audubon's warbler on tufa in the "South Tufa" area
Captain John, leader of the Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiutes
Exposed tufa towers in Mono Lake; South Tufa, 1981
Mono Lake viewed from the summit of Mount Dana. Note near-landbridge at left, almost connecting Negit Island with the mainland shoreline.
Aerial view of Mono Lake in May 2019, with generous snow pack promising a good summer for the lake
"South Tufa, Mono Lake", 2013.

Mono Lake facts for kids

Images for kids

See also