Located along the San Andreas Fault, the Salton Sea is California’s largest lake, it’s 225 feet below sea level, and is 25% saltier than the ocean. But it’s beginnings were much different than any other body of water in the state.
Please click the images to view larger versions.
It all started with an engineering error. In 1900 irrigation canals were built to divert water from the Colorado River into the low lying Salton Sink to allow farmers to plant crops. But a couple of years later the Colorado River flooded and tons and tons of water went crashing down the irrigation canals into the Salton Sink and ultimately formed the Salton Sea. There were many attempts to stop the flooding but nothing was successful until the Hoover Dam was built in 1935.
Problem solved? Or only the beginning of a worse problem?
The sea was re-worked into a resort vacation destination and in the 1950’s and 60’s the Salton Sea had more visitors than Yosemite National Park! Campers and boaters would come to enjoy the swimming and fishing offered by California’s largest lake. It was a going concern!
But the 1970’s saw floods and hurricanes that destroyed the resort area. The popular bar and mobile home park washed away and the place was never the same.
And that wasn’t the end of the Salton Sea’s troubles. In 1996 there was avian botulism that killed 14,000 pelicans and 19,000 other birds. In 1998 Newcastle’s disease killed 17,000 birds. Then in 1999 there was a massive fish die-off due to increasing levels of algae and bacteria that led to the death of 7.6 million fish.
Because there is no outflow the salinity of the sea increases every year and now only one kind of fish can survive- the tilapia. When they die, they wash up on the beach which is covered with dried up tilapia.
You can imagine what 110 degree heat does to all those dead fish in the summer months and it’s no wonder it isn’t a resort destination anymore. By the way this is not a white sand sand beach with lovely seashells – those are super sharp barnacles and bones! No wearing sandals here (I learned the hard way).
Despite it’s troubled past, today the Salton Sea is a fantastic bird watching location with 400 species of birds including 30% of the population of the American White Pelican. It’s a major stop on the “pacific flyway.”
There have been and continue to be many efforts to save the Salton Sea. It’s definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. We were there in winter so there were no signs of algae blooms and no smell of rotting fish. We had a beautiful campsite right on the lake. Just don’t forget to wear proper shoes!
Such a bizarre place with an incredible backstory. Great photos.
Thank you very much Kris! It was a pretty interesting place.
Fantastic pics, Ann. And a very interesting story.
Thanks Fred, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Some Great Photos! Interesting Backstory as well!
Thank you very much for your visit and comments!
Hi
Great article and images – I love shooting at The Salton Sea. It also makes are great setting for Fashion Photography, surprisingly!
Cheers, Erik
Hi Erik, you know I can see how that would be an interesting place for fashion photography. I have never tried that. Thanks for your comments.
Better than the History Channel and photos to rival NatGeo! Thanks for the info!
haha!! Thanks Steve, wow 🙂
Wonderful post, Anne – gorgeous images and very interesting story, well told.
Thank you very much Laurie, I appreciate that.
I have seen quite a lot of Salton Sea images on various blogs recently, and many people commented that it was one strange place. You are the first one who actually told a story of this area. Compared to others, I was surprised how much life you found there! Beautiful images.
Thank you very much Iza! It is such an interesting place, full of life and death I think. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
I just have to get down here one day. What an amazing place, wonderfully photographed and discussed here in your post, Anne.
Hey Toad, yes you really should. I can just imagine the types of photos you would come up with here!! Thanks for your comments.
Great article! And loved the photographs. Thank you!
Thank you very much Shelle, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful photos. My favourite is the 4th one.
Thank you so much Laura, I appreciate your comments.
Fabulous photos, Anne! I’ve loved the Salton Sea since I was a child. You capture its beauty and mystery.
Thank you very much for your kind comments Jasmyn!
I saw this fascinating lake in march 2014 with Sicco Rood, my son who lives in Borrego Springs CA and was very impressed by the silence of the lake
But I also was shocked by seeing Bombay Beach along this beautiful lake.
Just saw an interview in the Netherlands on television with one of the few left persons still living in Bombay Beach.
When I will visit the lake again in a few years time, I hope to make some oilpaintings along the shore, if it is not too hot.
Looking forward to do so.
Lydia Conens from The Hague
I cannot look at your photos Anne without gasping at how amazing they are! Thank you for sharing all the incredible history about the Salton Sea.
Great series of photos!
This was a beautiful photo story about the Salton Sea. Since the Salton Sea has been recreated over the past million years there are many other interesting places that you can visit around the sea. One being the fish traps that the Cahuilla used hundreds of years ago.
I have written a children’s book about 7 little pelicans and will be taking my photos for the book at the Salton Sea. Your photos inspired me to get to taking them soon. Thank you for such a nice photo array of the Sea.