Tufa, too cool Part I

Tufa towers.  That's what I think when I think Mono Lake.



A great place to stop by before visiting this saline lake is the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center.



You can learn all about the different types of tufa!  If you're wondering what tufa is, well, tufa is calcium-carbonate formations caused by fresh water mixing with alkaline water.  



And if you're small enough, you can stand in the lake model!  You probably don't want to stand in the real lake because it's full of alkali flies and their larvae.



Outside the visitor center, it's a short hike downhill to the lake.



Shoobedoobedoop.  I had a grand time hiking in the heat and high elevation.



Come back for Part II!