The Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is an inland lake in extreme southeastern California. Both the Salton Sea Recreation Area and the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are located on its shores. The Salton Sea was formed between 1905 and 1907 when the Colorado River burst through poorly built irrigation controls south of Yuma, Arizona. Continued filling of the Salton Sink was finally stopped in 1907, when a line of protective levees was built by boxcars dumping boulders into the breach. The Salton Sea is currently 35 miles by 15 miles. The lake's salinity is greater than the waters of the Pacific Ocean but less than that of the Great Salt Lake. The salinity concentration is increasing by about 1 percent a year and there are efforts at work to "save" the Salton Sea.

Nearly every evening we enjoyed awesome sunsets from our campsite.

It is the largest lake in California and a strategic resting area for birds in the Pacific Flyway. It also supports 30% of the remaining population of the American white pelican. We camped at the Recreation Area and had beautiful sunsets every evening. It is a great area for photography with the mountains, morning mist and all the bird activity. For birdwatchers, it is a "bird-mecca" with over 400 bird species being documented.

The Salton Sea is a mecca for bird watchers....pictured here are two wading stilts.

We so enjoyed our week stay here that we plan to return in the near future and do more bird watching and enjoy more sunsets!