Mono Lake

Mono Lake
Landsat image of Mono Lake
Location	Mono County, California
Coordinates	38°01′00″N 119°00′34″W / 38.0165908°N 119.0093116°W / 38.0165908; -119.0093116Coordinates: 38°01′00″N 119°00′34″W / 38.0165908°N 119.0093116°W / 38.0165908; -119.0093116
Type	Endorheic, Monomictic
Primary inflows	Rush Creek, Lee Vining Creek, Mill Creek
Primary outflows	Evaporation
Catchment area	2,030 square kilometres (780 sq mi)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	13 mi (21 km)
Max. width	9.3 mi (15 km)
Surface area	45,133 acres (18,265 ha)
Average depth	57 ft (17 m)
Max. depth	159 ft (48 m)
Water volume	2,970,000 acre·ft (3.66 km3)
Surface elevation	6,383 ft (1,946 m) above sea level
Islands	Two major: Negit Island and Paoha Island; numerous minor outcroppings (including tufa rock formations). The lake's water level is notably variable.
References	U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mono Lake

Mono Lake (/ˈmoʊnoʊ/ MOH-noh) is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. These salts also make the lake water alkaline.

This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical nesting habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and blackflies (that also feed on the shrimp).

The human history of Mono Lake is associated with its productive ecosystem. The native Kutzadika'a people derived nutrition from the pupae of the alkali flies that live in the lake. When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially restore the lake level.

Mono Lake occupies part of the Mono Basin, an endorheic basin that has no outlet to the ocean. Dissolved salts in the runoff thus remain in the lake and raise the water's pH levels and salt concentration. The tributaries of Mono Lake include Lee Vining Creek, Rush Creek and Mill Creek which flows through Lundy Canyon.