Salton Sea

 The primary reason for our trip to south eastern California  was to check out the Salton Sea and the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge.  The lake and the refuge are an important stop over on the Pacific Flyway.  

The Salton Sea has a very interesting history.  It is basically a landlocked  extension of the Gulf of California.  It is California's largest lake, at approximately 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. and at 235 ft below sea level.  It has had a history of flooding and drying up.  

During the 1800's the Colorado River was tapped for the purpose of irrigating the 100,000 acres of the Imperial Valley's agricultural empire.  In 1905, after an unusually wet winter, the Colorado River broke through a poorly constructed canal cut.  The entire river's volume poured through unchecked for about 16 months.   The basin has no outflow.  Water is lost through evaporation and percolation into the ground. 

By the 1950's the Salton Sea had become a very popular resort area. Yacht clubs, marinas and golf courses were everywhere.  By the 70's the cycles of flooding and drying out ended all of that.  Currenly the sea gets very little water and has receded  dramatically, as can be seen is this picture of the Yacht Club.  Where Gloria was standing when she snapped the shutter would have deep enough for large boats to enter the Yacht Club's marina.  There is an equal amount of dry land before the lakes edge behind her.