In 2001 I had to go to
Reno, Nevada for a conference on Pro/ENGINEER computer aided design software.
So, I tried to make the best of it, and I added extra time on both weekends for
personal travel. I got to see Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Virginia
City, Devil's Postpile, Yosemite National Park and
Mono Lake. That's a
lotta stuff to fit into two weekends! But somehow I managed it, and for
the most part had a great time traveling.
I had read about Mono Lake many
years ago in a National Geographic article. It described how the lake was
isolated in a desert valley, and how Los Angeles was taking the freshwater from
the local streams and piping it away. The result is that the lake is
gradually drying up.
The unusual thing about Mono Lake
is that it has hot springs that pump water in from the surrounding water table.
Some of this water dissolves the minerals, and deposits them when it enters the
lake. This creates chimneys of
tufa, which have become exposed as the water level has dropped. The
landscape is eerie, spooky and alien-looking. Seems almost like a Tim
Burton fantasyland.
It is bizarre and fascinating to
walk among these formations. Now that they are exposed to the wind and
rain (and tourists!), they are gradually eroding away. I feel fortunate to
have had the opportunity to see them. And now I am sharing some of my
pictures of this surreal landscape. Hope you enjoy.
(click on first thumbnail to view full size photo)
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blog...
Also of interest:
- Mono Lake migratory
birds
- Read about Lake Lahontan,
one of the great western lakes that covered much of western Nevada during the
last ice age.
- Beautiful Lake Tahoe
- Sierra Nevada
mountains
- Reno, Nevada
- Virginia City,
Nevada - home of the greatest silver discovery in America
- Carson City, Nevada -
Capital of Nevada, minted dollars from silver mined at Virginia City
- Devils Postpile National Monument (Wikipedia,
National Park Service)
- Yosemite National Park (Wikipedia,
National Park Service)
- Travel sponsored by
Puritan Bennett
oxygen therapy systems
