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Tufa Silhouette and Crescent Moon, Mono Lake, California
Photo ID# RW5281Click here to license the photo for publication.
The tufa was once located beneath the surface of the water of Mono Lake, which is one of the saltiest lakes in the world. Beginning in 1941, the Owens River was diverted from the Mono Basin in order to provide water for the city of Los Angeles, Mono Lake's water level dropped drastically therefore exposing the tufa along the shores of the lake and threatening the ecosystem. Environmental conservation efforts have been made in order to try reversing the effects though the water level is still significantly lower than it originally was.