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Today we wanted to take a closer look at the Salton Sea so we took a road trip around it. The Salton Sea is described as California’s largest lake, it is 35 miles long, 15 miles wide and 227 feet below sea level; the basin that contains the Salton was originally the northern part of the Gulf of California. There is no natural outlet for water that enters this basin, the basin has contained many lakes over the centuries, some of these lakes were fresh water and some were salt water. The basin was dry and being used as farm land in the late 1800s and early 1900s when the Colorado River broke through some poorly constructed canals and gates and flowed into the basin for about 18 months before it was stopped, the basin has contained the sea since then.
We started our tour by driving north on Hwy 86 along the western side of the sea, the land along the shore is desert until you near the northern end where there are nurseries that appear to grow palm trees. We then took Hwy 111 across the northern end and stopped at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area’s Visitor Center. We walked along the beach watching the birds, the area is winter habitat for a large number and variety of birds. We also took time to have a light lunch at a picnic area located along the shore.
The western edge of the Salton.
Near the northern end of the Salton.
Looking south from the Visitor Center.
Looking west across the Salton.
There was a variety of birds along the shore.
This guy was diving in the harbor.
Some of what we saw during our short walk along the shore.
We then drove south on Hwy 111 along the eastern shore, this area was also desert until we neared the south end where agricultural fields grew a variety of crops including alfalfa for a large feed lot we passed. We drove on past the Salton to Brawley where we turned onto Hwy 86 and 78 that took us back to Ocotillo Wells and The Leapin’ Lizard RV Ranch. The wind has kicked in again today, we hope it doesn't blow for days.
The east side of the sea .
The mountains along the east shore.
Back home at Leapin’ Lizard RV Ranch.
2 comments:
One of our favorite weekend getaway spots is the Headquarters Campground on the western shore - near the new Visitor Center (which we haven't seen since it was built). It's nearly DEAD quiet there, except for the train whistles coming from the trains that go by hourly all night long. After a few hours, you get used to it, and even come to miss it when you're back home. The Salton Sea used to be a great fishery - tiapia, sargo, and croaker - but Don was "skunked" the last few times we were there. Don't ever go there during the summer - the desert heat causes the lake to stink!
What a nice tour around the Salton Sea! Thanks for taking us along...
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