Mono Lake was snatched from the brink of destruction by dedicated preservationists who formed a committee for that purpose in 1978. Our exploration of the lake and surrounding area was a mixed bag of fun and dismay. The levels of the lake, after years of water diversion, are still very low in contrast to former times. The migratory bird populations that were once drawn to the lake in the millions have vastly dwindled.

The lowered water levels of Mono Lake have exposed limestone formations called tufa. The now visible tufa formations give the lake a unique, even bizarre, character. We arrived at the lake early in the day with no prior knowledge of the lake's history. Or how cold and windy we would find it to be! Our clothing was insufficient for the conditions we encountered. After deciding to do a short walk about the main shoreline at Mono and return better prepared for a proper visit, we were so captivated by the look, feel, and history of the lake that we outlasted the weather. We wound up spending the entire day in the area. There are still many species of plants and birds to see at Mono Lake, which we enjoyed greatly.

In addition to Mono Lake itself we also spent time at the nearby Panum Crater. There were geocaches to be found there, easy hiking, and interesting geology to learn about. The crater is part of a relatively recent volcanic eruption that occured 600-700 years ago. Very recent!

All in all we had a great time of it visiting Mono Lake and the Panum Crater. It is a definite recommend.