Sunday, May 31, 2015

Salton Sea Post #2

I promised a follow-up post on my recent Salton Sea visit last week. Here's the backstory for those of you who are not familiar with the area. The Salton Sea is the largest lake in the state of California, although it is an "accidental" lake. It resulted from massive overflow from irrigation canals connecting to the Colorado River. The water flowed to an area that has no drainage. In the 60's and 70's, the Salton Sea became a very popular vacation destination. It had great boating, fishing, water skiing, and was slated to be the "next big thing" from a real estate development point of view. Developers saw big opportunity and started developing areas like Salton City. Roads were built, utilities were brought in, lots were sold, and homes and marinas were constructed.
Google Images:  https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS510US512&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=salton%20sea%20images
Google Images:  https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS510US512&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=salton%20sea%20images
But somewhere along the way, the health of the lake suffered. Salinity rose to the point where there were large fish die-offs, and no one could (or can) figure out how to reverse things. 
Google Images:  https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS510US512&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=salton%20sea%20images
This worried investors, created odors and attracted flies, and basically put the brakes on real estate development in the area. Home buyers were scared off, and as real estate values plummeted, people defaulted on loans and walked away for their vacation paradise investment.
Google Images: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS510US512&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=salton%20sea%20images
So what has become of the Salton Sea, you ask?? The salinity is so high that very few fish species can survive (it's more saline than the ocean). The water has receded due to evaporation exceeding inflow, and continues to recede more each year. The water is much too polluted for swimming or even boating. The sand beaches have been replaced with dead fish, fish bones, and barnacle shells.
Even our little chihuahua dog couldn't walk down to the water's edge... the fish bones and barnacle shells were too sharp to walk on.
Google Images:  https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS510US512&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=salton%20sea%20images
A blog I was reading about the Salton Sea (http://www.saltonseawalk.com) describes Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea as "A worst case scenario - perhaps the most heinous civic failure in the annals of western human civilization." Perhaps an overstatement, perhaps not, but you can argue that there are many Bombay Beach-like locations all around the Salton Sea.

So why visit? It's such a strange and unusual place that that becomes a draw in itself. It's popular with birders and also with photographers. The abandoned trailers, eccentric people, alien landscape... well, you get the picture.




Bottom line? Absolutely worth a visit, and make sure you take your camera gear!

17 comments:

  1. Well if people are going to meddle with natures balance then this is one of the things to happen. Lucky that there still is some beauty to find but troublesome it is.

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  2. Photo #9 is an award winner. I love that shot.

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  3. Great post and wonderful pictures on your part. For your next report, go to Niland and check in on Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Its been awhile since I was last there. I like the last photo. Made me think of Indians

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    1. thanks, John. That's my wife and granddaughter. We did a quick drive-by of Salvation Mountain, but didn't have time to check out Slab City.

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  4. Great pictures and a good story, but I don't think I'll go there.

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  5. Wow - your shots are amazing!

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  6. Sad what we humans do to nature. Progress you say---look what happens. Beautiful skies and it can be a beautiful place if you look with the right eyes.
    MB

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  7. Wonderful post, looks like a great place to bring one's camera as you say. Love your photos!

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  8. Sad and but Wow, I am researching on it now. Great story and posts my friend.

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  9. Oh, wow. Your shots are amazing!! Really enjoyed reading the history about this place. So sad what happened. Definitely an area to consider for the ol' bucket list.

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  10. I once saw a show on PBS about the Salton Sea and the vintage trailers caught my eye. Very interesting what awful stuff we do to the environment. Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  11. I want to bow down to your skies!



    ( '>
    /))
    //""

    ALOHA from Honolulu,
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  12. Great post and excellent photos!

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  13. oh that is sad when people tamper with beautiful places :-(

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  14. Great shots, but a sad place. I've heard about it before but never yet visited.

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  15. I was stationed in El Centro in the late 1960s and visited Salton Sea several times. It was a beautiful place but the heat was unbearable. Quite a bit has changed except for the heat! Very interesting and informative couple of posts!

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