Mono Lake Recovering
LEE VINING, United States (AFP) - A prehistoric ecological marvel nestling high in the mountains of eastern California, Mono Lake has become an oasis of hope for conservationists battling drought in the state. (Read story at Yahoo)
I first saw Mono Lake on a family trip in 1991 to Yosemite. I was amazed at the white stalagmites shooting out of the water. As I looked out over the lake the mountains rose behind me and the desert beyond the lake. It was a truly magical experience. I returned a few years later to work in Yosemite National Park for the summer and I chose to enter through Tioga Pass (West of the park near the Lake) so that I could see Mono Lake once again. I attended a presentation at the visitor center given by a NASA scientist. NASA was sending mini submarines deep into the lake to study the dying lake. By better understanding the death of the lake they hoped to learn more about water that once existed on Mars. After the presentation I found a secluded spot at the edge of the lake and watched the day turn to night. The colors over the desert and lake were beyond description. It was humbling.
California has one of the most interesting and unique landscapes in North America but the population boom is destroying the beautiful state. California is known as an environmentally active state, but unless they stop the influx of illegal immigrants and work harder to save their state everything will be reversed. I do hope that California is able to save their state and become and example to us all, but I fear that it is a losing battle. A battle, however, that must be fought…
california is a lost cause in regards to illegal immigration. The state relied on it for agriculture and then ignored the others until it was too late. The environment can still be saved but it will take effort on the part of all.