Alpenglow Images

Nature & Landscape Photography by Greg Russell

Mono Lake, California

Approximately 14 miles long by 10 miles wide, Mono Lake is one of the few remnants of Ice Age lakes in the West that is still a year-round lake. The lake has persisted for more than 730,000 years, but faces an uncertain future from both natural and man-made causes. The lake is very alkaline and since 1941, has become moreso, due to the diversion of freshwater springs into the Los Angeles aqueduct. By 1982, the lake's level had dropped 45 feet, exposing something that makes Mono unique: curious brown structures called tufa towers. Tufa towers are deposits of calcium carbonate (due to calcium present in underwater freshwater springs, and carbonate in the lake water).


Mono Lake Sand Tufas with the Sierra Nevada as a background; Image #0014	Mono Lake Sand Tufas; Image #0015

Mono Lake Star Field I; Image #0287	Mono Lake Star Field II; Image #0288

Mono Lake Sand Tufas with Mono Craters as background; Image #0016	Mono Lake Sand Tufas with moon; Image #0017

Negit Island sunset; Image #0018	South Tufa sunrise; Image #0019