Salton Sea
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| The Salton Sea is a 40 mile long inland sea formed by accident, and is now a briny agricultural sink, in one of the most arid places in the country. Before the sea formed, the area was a dry depression, below sea level, south of which was one of the most productive agricultural areas in the state. In 1905, an irrigation canal that brought Colorado River water to the valley was overwhelmed by high water from rains along the Colorado watershed. The entire flow of the Colorado River drained into the Salton Sink, rapidly filling it up with water, before the breach could be dammed. Now the sea is a sink for the salty water washed off the fields of Imperial Valley agri-businesses. As a result, the level of the sea is rising, flooding the surrounding area, and becoming increasingly saline. Fish kills frequently occur when algae blooms suck up all the dissolved oxygen (a sport fishing industry at the lake has all-but disappeared), lining the shore with a layer of desiccating roughies. Other incidents, such as 150,000 eared grebes dying at the lake in 1992, make the Salton Sea a very special place indeed. |
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80 miles E of San Diego
(POINT(-115.8177051374 33.3037109375))
(show on map)
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CA
Imperial County |
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Westshores Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 5135
Salton City, CA 92275
(619) 394-4112 |
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| As the largest body of water in California, the Salton Sea is hard to miss on the map. Located at the southeast corner of the state, Highway 86 follows the western side, while Highway 111 follows the east shore. Some of the better vantage points of the Sea are at North Shore, on 111 where there is a visitor's center; Bombay Beach; Red Hill Marina; and Salton City. |
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http://www.saltonsea.ca.gov/
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/salton/SaltonBasinHomePage.html
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/salton/SaltonSeaHomePage.html
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Agriculture / Horticulture, Water
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