Salton Sea

Destination Salton Sea:  a vast inland lake, in fact, the largest lake in California measuring in at 380 sq. miles (versus Tahoe at on 193!)  But the Salton Sea faces incredible challenges.

It is a bird lover's paradise and more than 400 species have been spotted here, including about 100 that are breeding species.  It is a key stop on the Pacific Flyway.  There is one predominant fish:  the tilapia that supports the birds.

The Sea is salty.  Really salty.  And getting saltier every year.  The Sea has no water rights of its own (and water rights are everything in this part of the world)!  So a bit of runoff enters and a whole lot of water evaporates...and the Sea gets saltier and saltier.  At some point the fish and birds will not tolerate the salty water....and then it will become an inland, dead sea.

We camped on the beach and did a bit of birding.  Listened to the trains rumbling along the tracks.

And left for Yuma!

Sunset View from Bessie