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‘The air is toxic’: how an idyllic California lake became a nightmare

The shrinking Salton Sea was once a tourist destination. Now it’s home to dangerous algal blooms, endless dust and noxious air

Just to be safe, Noemí Vázquez keeps inhalers in almost every room of her house. She stashes them in her kitchen cupboard, a couple in her purse, one in the bathroom, and, of course, by her bedside.

And then there’s the large, black Puma knapsack where she keeps her nebulizer, several inhalers, and the montelukast pills she takes to treat her wheezing. Her four-year-old granddaughter has her own asthma kit – a neon pink and purple Trolls-themed lunch box that holds a small, child-sized nebulizer and a few inhalers. “She’s smart! She knows: this is her bag,” Vázquez said.

Asthma and allergies are a part of life here in Imperial county, California . A way of life, even, in a region shrouded by a grey-beige dust that haunts Vázquez’s days and nightmares. A few years ago, when the air was particularly thick, she awoke in the night unable to speak or breathe. Her skin was purple. “If my husband wasn’t sleeping next to me that night, I would have passed away,” she said. “I think about all those people who don’t have anyone sleeping next to them. About the kids who don’t know how to talk yet.”

Here, in California’s far south-east, there’s no escaping the noxious air. The haze that hovers over Imperial is a peculiar blend – incorporating pesticide plumes, exhaust fumes, factory emissions, and something curious: vaporized dust rising from the nearby Salton Sea.

The glimmering blue basin that stretches across the desert is either starkly beautiful or grotesque – depending on whom you ask. Formed more than a century ago by a breached canal, the Salton Sea is many things. It is California’s largest lake, an ecological oasis, a former mecca for famous vacationers, and a muddy sink for agricultural runoff. For decades, it has been shrinking, exposing a powdery arsenic-, selenium- and DDT-laced shoreline that wafts into the atmosphere.

Near the sea, hospitalization rates for children with asthma are double the state average, and one in five kids have the condition. Many of the mostly Mexican American farm workers and outdoor laborers who live and work in Imperial, one of the state’s poorest counties, breathe in a dangerous mix of Salton Sea dust and pesticide on a daily basis as well. In Calipatria, Brawley, Westmorland and other towns around the lake, adult asthma rates are among the highest in the state.

It can be a punishing place to live, said Amor García, 31, who moved to the area four years ago. “No one warned us it would be so bad for our health,” she said. On muggy mid-summer days, temperatures here creep up to 120F and the desert streams with a brown vapor. The hot, grimy air clings to hair and creeps under fingernails. The sea steams up a sulfurous stench.

García worries that in the coming years, if nothing is done to address the pollution crisis, the area will become almost unlivable. An unprecedented drought amplified by the climate crisis and growing demand for water in southern California are both hastening the Salton Sea’s decline. Researchers predict that the sea could lose nearly three-quarters of its volume by 2030. By some estimates , the declining water level could expose an additional 100,000 acres of playa.

“All that dust that gets exposed would mean even more breathing problems and more allergies and asthma for the people who live here,” said Shohreh Farzan, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Southern California who has been analyzing how the dust around the Salton Sea is affecting children.

A resort for celebrities and presidents

The Salton Sea was formed in 1905 when the Colorado River breached an irrigation canal and filled up an ancient basin in the desert, creating an oasis for migratory shorebirds and, by the middle of the 20th century, for celebrities and dignitaries. Developers dotted the shores with palm trees and built up luxury resorts around its perimeter, and the area became a destination for Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and the Beach Boys. President Dwight Eisenhower used to come by the golf course.

Working-class families like Steve Johnson’s would also come and visit. His grandfather bought a small property by the beach, and as a kid Johnson would fish and swim in the lake during his summer vacations. “We didn’t really mingle with the celebrities – though Zeppo Marx, of the Marx Brothers, I did meet once,” Johnson, 59, recalls, as he nurses a Miller High Life at the Ski Inn, the best – and only – dive bar in Bombay Beach, a once-bustling vacation community by the sea that now houses a handful of mostly artists and anarchists. He moved here two decades ago. “It is just beautiful,” he said. And then he paused. “Well. It’s complicated.”

Johnson still swims in the lake sometimes – but nowadays he’s an exception. After the breached canal that created the lake was mended, it was mostly sustained by runoff water from nearby farms - water that was full of pesticides and nitrates, which blended with salt deposits in the lake bed to create an increasingly salty sea. By the 1990s, the sea had started getting even smaller, and saltier, killing off masses of fish and birthing noxious algal blooms. Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of migratory birds around the lake have died of either starvation or poisoning.

“And then came the odor,” said Miriam Juárez, 37, who has lived near the sea for most of her life. “It’s repugnant.” Her parents used to take her and her brothers to fish in the sea as well, she said. But her kids have only ever known the lake as a toxic void that periodically spews up fish bones and poison dust. On a searing summer day, as the mercury crept past 120F (48.9C), Juárez’s kids huddled into their air-conditioned bedrooms, her eight-year-old son occasionally popping out to grab a popsicle from the freezer. It’s often too hot and too dusty to play outside – so many local kids opt to get their exercise at the Crossfit gym nearby.

For many families - including Juárez’s – the pandemic has been especially traumatizing. Imperial county has been one of the hardest-hit regions in California, and the residents’ high rates of respiratory issues has made them especially vulnerable to complications from Covid-19. But it has come with a small silver lining for some: staying indoors and wearing masks for the past year and a half has ameliorated asthma and allergies. “We’re probably going to keep our masks on, even after the pandemic,” Juárez said. “To wear against the dust.”

The masks will be one more addition to the elaborate rituals the Juárez and others have adopted to survive in this dusty valley. She never opens her windows and stuffs towels under the doors of her home in Salton City, just west of the lake. Her kids’ schools have a system of raising green, yellow and red flags to indicate how bad the air pollution is on a given day – but even on so-called good days, many of the kids at her youngest daughter’s schools stay indoors for recess, to avoid aggravating their asthma.

Vázquez, 52, who runs her daycare out of her home, switches out her air filters every week, mops a few times a day, and requests that visitors wear disposable shoe covers – the kind they use in sterile operating rooms – to avoid tracking in dust. Out of the 10 or so kids currently under Vázquez’s charge, five use inhalers for asthma. Over the years she’s seen some really severe cases: kids that could hardly go outside without getting winded, two- or three-year-olds who couldn’t stop wheezing. Most children come to daycare carrying their own medical bags stocked with inhalers, creams and pills for allergies, saline nasal sprays for perpetually blocked noses and a change of clothes in case of nosebleeds, which kids in this neighborhood get constantly.

Seven-year-old Derek, whom Vázquez watched when he was a toddler, had it so bad he was constantly in and out of the hospital and urgent care. He was born prematurely, his lungs a bit underdeveloped, his mother, Melissa Fischer, said. She still has videos on her cellphone from the various times he was hospitalized as a baby and toddler – he’d be hooked up to an IV, and she’d sing to him to keep him calm and cheer him up. He’s doing better these days; he still wheezes on windy days, but his inhaler usually fixes him up.

“I don’t think he remembers being in the hospital,” said Fischer. “But I think it was traumatic.” He’s always exceptionally cautious about new places and experiences, Fischer said, looking over as her son played on the couch. “I think it instilled a fear in him.”

Generations have been harmed and traumatized by the pollution, Vázquez said. She, her 27-year-old-daughter and her four-year-old granddaughter all have severe asthma. The dust has been making generation after generation sick, she said. “And hardly anything has changed.”

A string of broken promises

In 2003, the local water authority in the region signed the largest agriculture-to-urban water transfer agreement in US history with San Diego. Imperial Irrigation District (IID) agreed to start selling much of its massive allotment of water from the Colorado River to city-dwellers and suburbanites along the coast. As part of the deal, IID agreed to send some water to the Salton Sea for 15 more years, buying it and other local authorities time to find a solution for the shrinking lake.

“And for 15 years, everyone just sat there and did a lot of nothing,” said Luis Olmedo, executive director of Comité Cívico Del Valle, a health and social services organization in Brawley, just south of the Salton Sea. A $8.9bn proposal in 2007 to rehabilitate the lake fell through as the Great Recession took hold. In 2015, local authorities broke ground on a project at Red Hill Bay, intending to flood the desiccated lakebed to the south of the lake with water from the sea and the nearby Alamo River, to keep down the dust and create wetlands for birds. Today, it remains flat, dry and dusty – the project has been derailed by budget issues, local politics and “just a lack of will”, said Olmedo. “They keep doing these ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and nothing happens.”

A dust-coated sign staked at the Red Hill site still optimistically promises: “Estimated construction in 2016.”

And still, consulting companies, advocacy groups and local officials have been dreaming up bigger, more creative plans to solve the problem. One idea was to pipe in water from the Sea of Cortez, desalinate it and pump it into the lake. Some local residents have wondered: why not pipe in water from the Pacific? “I mean, maybe that’s wild, but why not?” said Johnson. “We have to try something.”

In recent years, the state’s energy commission has become increasingly interested in the prospect of investing in lithium extraction from the area. It has doled out millions to energy companies to explore mining the element used in the batteries that power cellphones and electric cars. If one small-scale demonstration plant being developed by a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy goes well, the company envisions that the Salton Sea region could produce a third of the world’s lithium, revive the region’s stalling economy and rev up the country’s ambitious plans to decarbonize transportation.

“It’s all just speculation,” sighs Olmedo, shaking his head at the oozing mud pots near one of the region’s existing geothermal energy plants. “While various companies are biding their time waiting for this lithium thing to take off, where does it leave the community? We’re still breathing the toxic air.”

Robert Schettler, a spokesperson for the irrigation district, said: “At IID, we, too, are frustrated with the progress at the Salton Sea, but we continue to work on things there.” The water agency’s leaders have pointed to various dust suppression projects they’ve undertaken in recent years, including planting vegetation to tamp the soil down and “surface roughening” – basically, digging ridges in the dried mud to break the wind and keep the playa from flying up.

The state has also started up a $206m project to restore habitat for fish and birds at the south-west edge of the lake. “Make no mistake, this is a challenging endeavor,” said Arturo Delgado, the assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. But, he said in a statement to the Guardian, “progress is happening”.

Nancy del Castillo, 42, who lives with her husband and two kids in Salton City, said she had trouble trusting such reassurances. She’s been trying to save up for years to move to a different neighborhood, with better air. There’s still pollution from pesticides, and from diesel fumes up in Riverside and Coachella, to the north – but it’s not as bad.

“The earth has been raising toxic dust for years,” she said. “It seems ugly to me that officials keep deceiving people, telling us they’re going to fix it.”

Castillo and a group of her neighbors have been faithfully attending community meetings, local hearings and even bigger meetings on how to improve the Salton Sea situation for years, she said, and have grown increasingly frustrated.

Once, after she spoke about the air pollution in Imperial county at a meeting in Sacramento, California’s capital, Castillo said, she overheard a man dismiss the crisis: “Yeah, but there’s just a few people living there.” Many families in the region are Mexican immigrants, she said, people who work in the fields or in construction, who can’t afford to move somewhere else, who breathe the toxic air because they have no other choice. But to this man, she said, “it’s like we don’t even count”.

Meanwhile, many local residents worry that time is running out. “With more climate change and more desertification and drought,” the environmental and health issues are going to keep getting worse, said Ryan Sinclair, a professor of public health at Loma Linda University who has been mapping the sea’s decline. The current, unprecedented drought gripping the western US has only put more pressure on the shrinking Colorado River, which feeds 30 farms and cities up and down the region, further complicating the calculus and politics of how and where to send its waning waters. By 2045, researchers estimate that the sea could someday become 10 times as salty as the Pacific Ocean, making it completely uninhabitable for fish. Its receding shores could expose nearby communities to as much as 100 tons of dust each day.

Versions of the same apocalyptic vision are unfolding across the world. Utah’s Great Salt Lake has been shrinking and spitting up arsenic as well. Iran’s Lake Urmia is just about 10% of its original size. The ecological crisis at Kazakhstan’s diminished Aral Sea has become a perverse tourist attraction.

“Still, I don’t want to leave here,” said Juárez. “I want to stay. I want to fight.” Her kids do, as well. She brings out a folder full of drawings and letters that her younger kids and their friends made at school. Her daughter Lisette’s appeal to local officials included a drawing of a stick figure in goggles swimming in the lake, while another stick figure lounges by the shore, under a striped umbrella, sipping a cold beverage. “Dear Sir or Madam, please help us save the Salton Sea,” she wrote above the picture. “Thank you!”

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The Salton Sea Story: The beautiful lake that exists despite itself in a desert, and how it affects us all

From her website: 

“Her work documenting the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California, was the subject of the monograph Salton Sea: of Dust and Water published by Daylight Books in 2020. The project, and subsequent book, captured the Salton Sea and dust remediation projects in 2018: the first-year state and federally mandated water  transfers ended to the Sea.”

To shop for some of her work, follow this link: debrabentleyphotography.com/shop

W hat is the Salton Sea? Give me a quick recap

The Salton Sea- heard of it? The name suggests a couple things, and if you had salt in mind, you’re onto something. It’s the largest inland lake that sits in Southern California- but don’t think coast, think desert. According to an article titled ”Salton Sea and Salinity” by Ali Montazar, the Salton Sea has an inflow of approximately four million tons of salt each year from irrigation water. This irrigation water comes from its surrounding agricultural land cover, aka the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. The Salton Sea Authority shared that the Salton Sea is about 60 parts per thousand of salt- in comparison, the ocean is 35 parts per thousand.

The Salton Sea was actually the Salton Sink before it got a makeover. It’s thought to be the result of an engineering mistake in 1905, when water was diverted from the Colorado River and flooded for over a year, creating the sea- but there’s some nuance to this. Labeling this as a mere accident oversimplifies its history and downplays current environmental concerns. It creates a sense of reluctance and inspires the question: “why preserve a sea that isn’t supposed to exist?” The historical timeline reveals that flooding from the Colorado River into the Sink dates back to the late 1850s, suggesting that the sea would have naturally formed and undergone evapotranspiration. Yet, the burgeoning agriculture in the region since the 1850s posed challenges.

Initially, the Salton Sea was a bustling tourist attraction. Teeming with fish, boasting ideal weather year-round, and attracting migratory birds, it was a paradise . However, tourism has dwindled over time, overshadowed by a myriad of environmental and public health issues stemming from the receding sea. This complex situation remains a contentious topic, sparking debates and concerns at both state and national levels.

What’s going on right now?

The Salton Sea is an endorheic lake, a sink with no outlet or tributaries. Many endorheic lakes, like the Salton Sea, are shrinking as water is diverted for industrial and agricultural uses, and they face the effects of global warming. Increased heat accelerates evapotranspiration, causing the lake to close in on itself- in short, the lake shrinks alarmingly fast. The Salton Sea also sits in the middle of a desert, so naturally it doesn’t see much precipitation. Given that the only real inflow of significance into the Salton Sea is agricultural runoff, the lake gets filled with more and more pesticides and fertilizers with nowhere to go. It’s effectively a poisonous water pool. This creates truly massive fish and bird die-offs. Tragically, 7.6 million fish died in one day , and such loss results in thousands of bird deaths every year. With over 90 percent of wetlands in California gone , the Salton Sea was a bird sanctuary, and it’s now becoming a trap. Birds come and, without fish, they starve and can’t migrate because they are depleted of energy and simply die at the site.

The Salton Sea has also been identified as one of the best sources of lithium in the country. While many private interests are excited about this, community members, for the most part, are concerned. One study does a complete assessment of community input regarding lithium extraction. For one, it states the following:

“DLE will not use groundwater or water from the Salton Sea. The source of brine is from geothermal reservoirs several thousand feet below ground, and process water will be purchased from the local utility’s supply of surface water from the Colorado River.”

Lithium extraction using water from the Colorado River–an already over allocated water resource–with fierce community public health concerns and an already severe ecological crisis on the brink of collapse in the face of climate change sounds like the cherry on top; it’s a terrible idea. Additionally, we have no idea of the effects lithium extraction on public health, not to mention critical wildlife.

Why should I care? Do I play a role? I don’t even live there.

Imperial County produces two-thirds of the US winter vegetables. Read that again. One site provides two-thirds of vegetables for the entire country. Even if you’re sitting at a cafe in Maine eating a salad, there is a chance–and a big one at that–those veggies came from somewhere in Imperial County. You could be on the other side of the country, and you are still connected to this. You are more involved than you’ve been made to believe. Want to keep having veggies in winter? How about some steak? Imperial County produces an exuberant amount of alfalfa, a cattle feed that is the number one commodity in the country. Additionally, 70% of alfalfa feed is sold to China and Japan. You literally don’t even have to live in this country to still be connected to this issue. Imperial County makes its bank from cattle, alfalfa, and lettuce.

There is simply no soft way to word this; the exploitation of this environment, its people, and blatant inaction has benefited and fed this entire country. Its deterioration can and will impact you, whether you live there or not.

(Consider watching Green Desert directed by Leo Zahn)

Okay, so what am I supposed to do with this?

If you’re a public official reading this, then simply do better. Community residents have made it clear that public health is a huge concern, and it historically has not been prioritized. Lithium extraction could compromise the lives of people that provide two-thirds of winter produce for this country, if that doesn’t mean anything, then simply please stop being a public official.

Support community gardens . Eat produce seasonally. Support local, small farmers – they work really hard! Go to local farmers markets; they are so much fun. You can also grow your own food. Yes, to many, the request sounds absolutely deranged and beyond radical. But put a seed in some dirt, and give it light and water. It is not as hard as it’s been made out to be. YouTube has a million videos on any questions you may have about growing food.

Attend meetings that have to do with the Salton Sea or local environmental issues; you live there, and you have the right to clean air, water, and healthy food. You have the right to beautiful landscapes, and you can and should feel empowered to advocate for them. If your local politicians aren’t making the cut, vote them out and demand better .  Just because things are bad doesn’t mean they always have to be. You’re more powerful than you’ve been made to believe. Boycott the nonsense . Be a responsible consumer; if it doesn’t align with your values, then dump it and encourage others around you to do the same.

Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Build community, and tell them about yourself. Tell them about what you read today. You might be surprised.

If you liked what you read, please see the following link. I have created a report that uses remote sensing applications to assess the turbidity index of the Salton Sea post haboob. The report also looks at vegetation indices using Landsat 8 data for Salton Sea surrounding land cover. Both pieces are done closely with recent crop report data.

Assessing Salton Sea and Surrounding Land Cover Post High Wind Speeds for Turbidity and Vegetation Indices using Landsat 8 Data

Additionally, I helped write the piece Feet in Water, Head on Fire – definitely recommend! Directed by Terra Long , the film can show you an intimate and artful feel of this space (I’m 100% biased, personally love Terra and the work that went into this film).

Studies to read:

Identifying Major Hydrologic Change Drivers in a Highly Managed Transboundary Endorheic Basin: Integrating Hydro-Ecological Models and Time Series Data Mining Techniques https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032281

Aerosolized aqueous dust extracts collected near a drying lake trigger acute neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation reminiscent of microbial innate immune ligands https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159882

What do frontline communities want to know about lithium extraction? Identifying research areas to support environmental justice in Lithium Valley, California https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103043

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What Happened Here, At The Salton Sea?

Pulling up just before sunrise at the Salton Sea, California’s biggest lake, is an almost surreal experience. At this time of day it’s eerily quiet; just the sound of water, a few desolate cries of waking birds and the sound of our Polaroid cameras.

Abandoned and partially destroyed mobile homes, a chair in the water, a lone boot, a pink sink and a BBQ are just some of the things lying around. It makes you wonder what happened here.

Photo by Nathalie Farigu.

At the beginning of the 20th century, as farmers set up shop in the hot desert climate of the Imperial Valley, they needed to tap into the Colorado River to irrigate their crops. To enable this, the California Development Company dredged two intake gorges without the use of floodgates.

However, in the summer of 1904, the flow of water stopped as the intakes became clogged with silt deposits from the Colorado River. Another intake gorge was created. Once again a floodgate was omitted. In 1905, these human engineering errors allowed saline water to be carried from a flooded Colorado River into the Salton Sink area, thus creating the present-day Salton Sea.

(Geologic studies show that the Colorado River spilled into the Salton Basin many times over the millennia, creating intermittent lakes. So the basin has a long history of alternately hosting a fresh water lake and being a dry, empty desert basin — according to the balance between inflow and evaporative loss. Humans are responsible for inundating the basin only once.)

But the Salton Sea is not just a story about the repeated failures of a human endeavour to control nature for human needs. After the Sea’s creation, the area enjoyed a few decades as a tourism resort and felt a boom in recreational fishing. But that was only until the increased salinity and pollution (agricultural drainage, urban runoff, and waste water flows/storm run-off) killed off most fish species, leaving the strange wasteland you see pictured here.

As a closed drainage basin that receives only inflows, the Salton Sea has become saltier and saltier every year. This has made it harder and harder for the Sea’s incredible biodiversity of land and water life, including a plethora of migrating bird species, to survive.

A familiar, global story

While the Salton Sea may be a well known example (at least in North America) of ecosystem decline, there are surely hundreds of other such sites across the world where ecosystem nightmares have resulted from humankind’s rush to develop short-term solutions to harvest food or energy.

The scale of the Salton Sea’s problems are dwarfed by what is happening to the area where China’s infamous Three Gorges Dam project is currently being constructed. Beyond the social impacts faced by the 1.2 million people displaced by the project, Chinese and foreign experts have expressed serious concerns about the possibilities of landslides, waterborne diseases and significant biodiversity loss.

In one smaller-scale example, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the concrete bases of wind turbines have hindered the natural flow and drainage of water and are causing farmers’ crops to flood. Engineers here have predicted that the local water table could eventually dry up, leaving the land unsuitable for planting.

What price progress?

As this photo-essay shows, humankind’s ability to transform the environment can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. We can only demand that the incredible influence our species has also be used to rejuvenate and restore ecosystems to what they should be.

After decades, there is finally a ray of hope for the Salton Sea. While the California Legislature “has not yet taken any action to approve or reject” any restoration of the Salton Sea ecosystem, the departments of Fish and Game and Water Resources say they have begun an interim Species Conservation Habitat Project. According to an environmental program manager for the Department of Fish and Game, the project will consist of about 2,400 acres of interconnected ponds and construction is scheduled to begin at the end of 2011.

Regardless, we should collectively ask ourselves whether the price of progress should be extracted from places like the Salton Sea. Is there a bearable margin of ecosystem wreckage inherent to feeding and powering the world?

Nathalie Farigu

Nathalie Farigu is a Netherlands-based photographer. She specializes in social documentary, travel photography and environmental portraits. Her work has been exhibited in Los Angeles and Toronto. She is currently involved as a photographer/editor with Tokyo-based Magnesium Agency.

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The Life or Death of the Salton Sea?

This huge California lake was a haven for birds and fish, and aimed to be a paradise for man but toxic chemicals and salt may be doing it in

Robert H. Boyle

Flanked by the Chocolate Mountains and the fertile green acres of California's Imperial Valley, the Salton Sea is one of the most spectacular and bizarre bodies of water in the United States. Today it is saltier than the nearby Pacific Ocean but it began life some 90 years ago as a freshwater lake. That was when the rampaging Colorado River broke loose from its channel and swung northwest, flowing into the Salton Sink, a desert basin whose center was 278 feet below sea level. In the year and more it took engineers to redirect the river, the overflow had created a "sea" 45 miles long and 17 miles wide.

Enormous heat (up to 120 degrees F in summer) and control of the inflow of Colorado water, then and now largely used to irrigate the immensely rich agriculture of the Imperial Valley, evaporated the sea somewhat it is 35 miles long now. It became a major stopover for migrating birds and a prime fishing site. In the late 1950s its sunny weather and stunning scenery drew developers, who spent millions laying down streets and pipelines for seaside resorts like Salton City and the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club. But the sea kept filling up with salt and chemicals from Imperial Valley runoff. Today its salt content is so high, and getting higher, that it threatens the existence of the saltwater fish eventually stocked in it. The ambitious resorts long ago turned into near ghost towns. Recently species of birds at the sea began dying mysteriously by the thousands. A local commission is studying ways to save the sea. Whatever plans they propose will be costly and it is uncertain who will be willing to pay for them.

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The Salton Sea: How a Desert Resort Became an Abandoned Wasteland

• by Hailey Brophy
• February 18, 2023

In 1905, a dry lake bed in Southern California called the “Salton Sink” was filled with water once more as the Colorado River surged and newly constructed irrigation canals funneled the entire volume of the river into this low-elevation desert land. The event was an unprecedented once-in-a-lifetime failure in irrigation planning, and the result was something spectacular. From 1905 to 1907, the relentless torrent of water from the Colorado River plunged into the Salton Sink and transformed this dried up prehistoric lakebed into something incredible. A lake. A lake so big and grand that it was dubbed the “Salton Sea.” Larger than Lake Tahoe by over one hundred square miles, the Sonoran Desert’s new oasis became one of the largest inland lakes in the world almost instantaneously. While this newly formed lake would have otherwise dried up, farm runoff water from nearby agricultural lands continued to flow into the Salton Sea. ( 1 )

Badwater Basin in California’s infamous Death Valley is the lowest elevation point in North America at over 282 feet below sea level. Around 250 miles south of Badwater Basin (as the crow flies) is the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea, like Death Valley, sits at an extremely low elevation point. It is, in fact, only fiver feet higher than Badwater Basin. ( 2 )

More Strange History: The Dog Who Became a Saint

Oasis in the Desert

The history of this accidental lake is a fascinating one. After the Colorado River formed the Salton Sea in 1907, the gigantic stretch of sparkling blue water began to look like less of a mistake and more of a blessing. In the 1920s, anticipating the potential value of the lake as a destination for water recreation, the Department of Wildlife began populating the Salton Sea with freshwater fish of all kinds. Many of these newly introduced fish did not take to the lake’s conditions. It took several attempts until, in the early 1950s, fish populations finally began to boom. Orange mouth corvina, tilapia, desert pupfish, sargo, and Gulf croaker filled the banks of the sea until their numbers reached into the hundreds of millions. The sea was, naturally, a huge draw for sport fishers. The heyday of the “Salton Riviera” had begun. ( 3 )

As more and more tourists and holiday-makers began to flock to the Salton Sea, word began to spread. Hotels, beaches, marinas, and yacht clubs soon followed. Bombay Beach, one of the lake’s beach boom towns, became a hub for tourism. At the height of its popularity, the Salton Sea hosted celebrities such as Sonny Bono, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and The Beach Boys. ( 4 ) It was often thought of as the new Palm Springs. At one point, the flow of tourism to the Salton Sea was greater than that of Yosemite National Park. The lake and its fish had become a major draw for birdwatchers as well as anglers because massive quantities of birds had begun to stop off at the lake during their annual migration along the Pacific Flyway. The Salton Sea was a glittering blue jewel within the desert. ( 5 )

What Happened to the Salton Sea?

The glory days of the Salton Sea and its tourism industry were short-lived. The Salton Sea was never really built to last. The lake, as we have learned, was constructed by accident and was fed solely by agricultural runoff. Beginning in the 1960s, when the Salton Sea still attracted as many as one and a half million tourists each year, scientists warned that the lake was a disaster waiting to happen. The lake has no outlet; no drainage besides the hard desert soil beneath it. Furthermore, the agricultural runoff which fed the lake was composed of chemicals, fertilizers, nitrates, and waste materials. Combine that with the fact that ancient deposits of salt dissolved into the lake water and you’ve got yourself an ecological ticking time bomb. Without an outlet, all that the water of the Salton Sea can do is evaporate. Minerals like sodium and the other components of the fertilizers which drained into the lake do not evaporate. Thus, the once freshwater lake began to experience a sharp rise in salinity. ( 6 )

More Mysterious History to Read: What is the Pedro Mountain Mummy?

The Salt-In Sea

In the 1970s, a series of tropical storms decimated the communities surrounding the Salton Sea. Resorts and hotels were destroyed and tourism experienced a major setback from which the Salton Sea never really recovered. The destruction of these tourist areas came on the heels of the realization that the lake’s chemical makeup was growing unsustainable. ( 7 )

In 2022, the salinity level of the Salton Sea is nearly ten grams per liter more than the Pacific Ocean . The lake which once saw hundreds of millions of introduced fish reproducing and thriving now reportedly reeks of fish carcasses. Bombay Beach and many other beaches along the banks of the lake are littered with the bodies of birds and fish who have died due to the lake’s increasingly inhospitable conditions. Bombay Beach, which was once one of the most promising new tourist towns on the West Coast, now boasts a population of less than five hundred residents. The town is utterly abandoned. Old tourism attractions and facilities lie in various states of disrepair throughout a town which has no grocery stores, no gas stations, and a lake which has become too toxic for swimming. ( 8 )

Furthermore, the lake is still actively shrinking. With California’s ongoing drought and the lack of any significant inlets or outlets for the lake, the banks continue to shrink. When they do, miles of lakebed are exposed. This is a major issue for the surrounding areas. Exposed lakebed dries quickly in the punishing sunlight of the Sonoran Desert. Then, desert winds whip up the dust from these lakebeds causing major air pollution. Dust from the Salton Sea contains pesticides and other harmful chemicals which have drained into the lake and settled. The county in which the lake is located has the state of California’s highest levels of asthma hospitalizations. ( 9 )

The Future of a Dying Landmark

In 2015, a task force was formed by the state of California with the goal of managing and, where possible, correcting the issues facing the Salton Sea and the battered communities which surround it. The task force aims to construct 30,000 acres of habitat over the course of ten years in order to restore and protect the lake. Whether these measures will be enough to preserve the remains of the lake and its surrounding communities remains to be seen. What is obvious, though, is that this land was never meant to be what the 1950s tourism industry envisioned. ( 10 )

Born from an irrigation failure, nurtured by waste chemicals, and pounded by the unrelenting heat of the California sun, it is no wonder that the once-inviting waters of the Salton Sea have become brackish and rancid. To a modern visitor, the only clues that this toxic pool was once the weekend playground of Hollywood elites are the broken and discarded remains of the resorts and marinas which once proudly welcomed them.

Check Out More Bizarre History: An American Mummy: The John Wilkes Booth Conspiracy

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Why can’t a canal with locks like the Panama Canal, be dug from the Pacific ocean, 30 miles to the south, to re-populate the lake with fresh salt water? It would become a major tourist draw that would offset the cost a hundred times.

Construct settling ponds, to collect the nitrates and other poisons that will be pushed out, by the influx of the waters from the Pacific. Run drainage canals into the Sonoran Desert’s canyons and dry lakes.

The “New” Salton Sea, might be a little to much of a tourist attraction for Las Vegas, Laughlin and other Mob run vacation spots that deal in cash. Another reason the sea’s restoration has languished?

Oh, forget it. I just read the Fuji Heavy Industries bought it. The end of the Salton sea for supposed “Lithium” deposits at the bottom. And “Geothermal” Energy in the mud pots. Bye bye. Nice to have known you, and leaned how to water ski on you, you old Salton Sea. When you were an oasis.

I’m jealous that you got to ski on the lake before such recreation stopped being safe/clean/viable. It would be really amazing to see the waterfront get restored, especially because of its significance as part of the Pacific Flyway for migrating birds. Thanks for stopping by!

— Hailey Brophy

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The Salton Sea Fades Away, And A Town With It

Gloria Hillard

The barren earth and dead trees reveal the blight of the Salton Sea, where water conservation efforts are attempting to restore the once natural playground and tourist site in California. Lenny Ignelzi/AP hide caption

The barren earth and dead trees reveal the blight of the Salton Sea, where water conservation efforts are attempting to restore the once natural playground and tourist site in California.

In the middle of California's driest desert is the Salton Sea, the state's largest lake. Once a popular tourist destination, the storied salty and toxic lake nestled in the Imperial Valley has been slowly shrinking over the years.

A water transfer deal passed in 2003 could speed up that process, and some are now worried it could be an environmental and health disaster for the region.

Standing near the Salton Sea's receding shoreline on a recent day, 75-year-old Ed Angel points to a ragged patch of desert with dying palm trees.

"That's where the yacht club used to be right over there ... and they had a hotel there, a two-story hotel," Angel says.

Angel, Salton City's honorary mayor, says in the '70s the place was packed with tourists who came for the restaurants, water-skiing and good fishing. Now, dead fish gently bob along the shore. Under the desert sun, the smell is overpowering. Tilapia, the only remaining fish in the lake, struggle to survive in water saltier than the ocean.

Shrinking Lake, Shrinking City

Residents in Salton City, a town of about 3,700 people that sits on the western shore of the Salton Sea, have watched their home values plummet, and many have moved away. At the southern edge of the Salton Sea, second-generation farmer Al Kalin works 2,000 acres of sugar beets, alfalfa, wheat and carrots. The 63-year-old farmer says the irrigation water from Imperial Valley farm fields has been replenishing the sea for decades.

Farmer Al Kalin, 63, has about 2,000 acres of crops along the Salton Sea. He's concerned a water transfer agreement is helping speed the decline of the Salton Sea. Gloria Hillard/NPR hide caption

Farmer Al Kalin, 63, has about 2,000 acres of crops along the Salton Sea. He's concerned a water transfer agreement is helping speed the decline of the Salton Sea.

"The crystal clear water coming out of the ground ... that's the tile drainage water out of this field," Kalin says. "That makes up about 25 percent of all the water that goes to the sea."

The saltwater lake fed by agriculture water is also one of the last remaining waterways in Southern California for migratory birds. Kalin says they've found more than 400 species of birds in the Imperial Valley.

"That's more than anywhere else in the United States," he says.

Like many Imperial Valley farmers, Kalin is not that happy about the water transfer agreement that sends billions of gallons of Colorado River water to the cities of San Diego County. The 2003 deal was upheld by California's Supreme Court this year.

Negating The Impact

Halla Razak of the San Diego County Water Authority, however, says it's a win-win situation for both counties. Razak says San Diego gets water and the Imperial Irrigation District gets the funds to implement water conservation projects. She also disputes that the water transfer has contributed to the decline of the Salton Sea.

"We have been depositing water in the Salton Sea and absolutely negating any kind of impacts that the transfers have had on the sea," Razak says.

This is partially accomplished, Razak says, through a voluntary fallowing program that pays farmers to not plant crops. Some of that conserved water goes to San Diego and some goes to the Salton Sea. But the delivery of water will stop in 2018.

Herons nest in a tree along the Salton Sea. They are just one of the more than 400 species of birds in California's Imperial Valley that could could leave the area if the lake dries up. Courtesy of Al Kalin hide caption

That was when the state was supposed to have a restoration plan under way for the Salton, but that hasn't happened. So now, the San Diego County Water Authority, along with the Imperial Irrigation District, is seeking to stop the delivery of water four years early.

Imperial Irrigation District officials say the money saved can build habitats for birds and other wildlife with a series of shallow ponds designed to establish a fish population.

Causes For Concern

In the meantime, the Salton Sea continues to decline. Researchers say the sea could reach its tipping point in just a matter of years. First, the fish will disappear, and then many of the birds that depend on those fish will go elsewhere or die off entirely.

Other concerns are dust storms from the soil that has been exposed from the sea's drying up. It has become a toxic mix of metals, salt and agricultural chemicals. Farmer Kalin says that when the wind blows, it's like tear gas.

"This white dust we have — it burns your eyes, it burns your nose [and] your throat. ... People don't have any inkling of what it's like," Kalin says.

Residents in Salton City remain worried, and what's going to happen to the area is daily conversation. Some say that if the lake dries up, the people can't survive.

USA > California >  Salton Sea  >  History of the Salton Sea

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History of the Salton Sea:

Early 1900s: One of the world’s largest inland seas and lowest spots on earth at -227 below sea level, Salton Sea was created in 1905 when high spring flooding on the Colorado River crashed the irrigation canal gates leading into the developing Imperial Valley.  For the next 18 months the entire volume of the Colorado River rushed downward into the Salton Trough.  By the time engineers were finally able to stop the breaching water in 1907, the Salton Sea had been born at 45 miles long and 20 miles wide – equaling about 130 miles of shoreline. Instead of quickly soaking into the ground, the water stayed because the spot was actually the location of the ancient lake dating back to 700 A.D.  Sitting at lowest point of the basin the lake has collects enough water runoff to maintain its water table.

Peak Time 1950s-1960s: For years this sea became a huge vacation hot spot for people from all over because of its wide open water and great beaches.  It big became an even bigger vacation spot in the 1950’s once all the Hollywood stars found out about it.  The Hollywood influx quickly turned this small vacation getaway into an attraction drawing in 500,000 people a year.  Star-filled clubs such as Ace & Spades and the 500 Club sprouted up and recreational boating took off.  Many celebrities would come from Los Angeles and down from Palm Springs to take part in the beach life and great water sports offered at Salton Sea.  The state even introduced fish to the lake which led to a boom in sport fishing.  The celebrity who is the most associated with the Sea was Sony Bono, who actually learned how to water-ski here.  In the 1960’s the sea quickly gained salt content which began killing off the fish.  The smell of rotting fish along the shore became so bad that people almost instantly stopped come to the Salton Sea and most of its villages quickly turned into Ghost Towns.

The Salton Sea Today: The sea still has a really high salt content, 25% more than the ocean, and remains a quite deserted but cool to stop at. Starting in the 1990’s and still going on, the government has been trying to find ways not only to be able to use water from the Sea but also to be able to control the rising salt water to protect the current wildlife.  The salt level continues to go up and the fish continue to die, however, it is still the biggest stop for migratory birds in CA and recent tests show you can catch the more fish per hour here than anywhere else in CA.  Because the high salt content creates extra lift on boats allowing them to go faster, the Salton Sea is the currently the fastest place in the nation for recreational boating.  While the boating and fishing remain quite good, there are only trickles of visitors and the most beaches are now covered in crunchy white barnacles .  The best actually sandy beach is located at Mecca Beach which is just south of the state park headquarters.  You can find a ton of really neat deserted buildings on the east side of the Sea both at Desert Camp and Bombay Beach.  If you are looking for something uniquely cool, check out the mudpot field located just south of Niland.

The Sea may be quite deserted but you can still get gas and food in the 1,000 person town of Niland and can get Wifi on the north side of the lake at the park office near Desert Beach.  Overall, the cool beaches, date palms, wildlife, rundown/abandoned buildings, and mudpots are not only cool to see but led to some of the most unique photo opts around.

Photographer Will Pearson recently took an amazing series of panoramic photos that capture both the eeriness and beauty of the Salton Sea ghost town around Desert Beach.  The photo below, courtesy of Will Pearson©, is from inside an abandoned building.  Check out 360 degree panoramas of the Sea’s urban decay Here .

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Exploring the Salton Sea: Mystery & Ecology

Discover the captivating story of the Salton Sea , a fascinating lake tucked away in California. As someone who loves exploring natural wonders, I was intrigued by the rich history and ecological significance of this unique destination. Join me on a journey as we delve into the mysteries that surround the Salton Sea and uncover its vital role in supporting diverse wildlife.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California and holds a significant place in the state’s history.
• Formed thousands of years ago, the lake’s water level has experienced cyclical behavior over time.
• The Salton Sea was a popular vacation spot in the mid-20th century, attracting celebrities and tourists alike.
• Today, the lake faces environmental challenges that require restoration efforts.
• Despite these challenges, the Salton Sea remains an important ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife.

The Enigma of the Salton Sea

The Salton Sea, with its fascinating history and captivating mysteries, continues to intrigue adventurers and history enthusiasts alike. One intriguing enigma lies in the petroglyphs discovered in the Jacumba Wilderness area. These ancient drawings depict what appears to be ancient ships, fueling speculations about possible Viking or Chinese explorations in the region.

Local legends also add to the allure of the Salton Sea, with tales of a buried ship lying hidden in the desert sands. These legends, combined with the lake’s connections to Spanish expeditions, create an aura of mystery and intrigue around its past.

During the mid-20th century, the Salton Sea flourished as a vibrant tourist destination, enticing visitors with its unique attractions and recreational opportunities. Celebrities like the Rat Pack and the Beach Boys were drawn to its shores, adding to its popularity and allure.

Today, the Salton Sea remains a place of interest and tourism, offering visitors a chance to explore its natural wonders. From the exceptional wildlife sightings to its breathtaking views, the Salton Sea continues to attract tourists. However, it also faces challenges stemming from environmental issues, threatening its delicate ecosystem.

As we delve deeper into the enigma of the Salton Sea, we unravel its secrets and strive to protect this remarkable destination for future generations.

The Ecological Importance of the Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is not just a historical and recreational site; it is also an essential ecosystem. This expansive lake supports a diverse range of wildlife, including migratory birds, fish, and other organisms. The lake’s shores play a crucial role as nesting and breeding grounds for various bird species, creating a thriving habitat for avian biodiversity.

One notable feature of the Salton Sea’s ecosystem is the presence of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge provides protection and sanctuary for the lake’s wildlife populations, offering a safe haven for numerous species to thrive and reproduce. Under the refuge’s care, delicate ecosystems within the Salton Sea are preserved and nurtured.

The Salton Sea’s unique environmental conditions, such as its high salt content, pose both challenges and opportunities for the wildlife that inhabit the area. While high salinity may limit certain species’ ability to survive, it also creates a unique habitat that supports specialized organisms adapted to these conditions. The lake’s ecosystem is finely tuned to balance the delicate interplay between its inhabitants and the surrounding environment.

Overall, the Salton Sea’s ecological importance cannot be overstated. It serves as a vital stopover for migratory birds, providing crucial resources during their long journeys. The diverse wildlife and ecological interactions within the lake contribute to the overall health and resilience of the region’s ecosystems.

Environmental Challenges and Restoration Efforts

The Salton Sea is grappling with a range of significant environmental challenges that require immediate attention. As the water level of the lake recedes, it brings forth a host of issues, including escalating concentrations of salt and other pollutants. This has resulted in a deterioration of water quality, leading to devastating consequences such as mass die-offs of fish and declining populations of wildlife.

The exposure of the Salton Sea’s lakebed exacerbates the situation by producing aerosolized dust, which poses a serious health risk to nearby communities. Inhalation of this dust can lead to respiratory problems, further compounding the environmental concerns associated with the lake.

To tackle these pressing issues, ongoing efforts in restoration and preservation are being undertaken. Various restoration projects and initiatives have been implemented with the aim of safeguarding the delicate ecosystem of the Salton Sea, improving water quality, and minimizing the impact on local communities.

Restoration Projects and Initiatives

• Controlling Dust Emissions: Programs are in place to mitigate the dust emissions from the lakebed, including the use of earthworks and vegetation to stabilize the exposed areas and prevent dust from becoming airborne.
• Water Management: Monitoring and managing water inputs to the Salton Sea is crucial for maintaining a stable and sustainable ecosystem. Efforts are focused on ensuring adequate water inflow to prevent further decline in the water level.
• Habitat Restoration: Restoration projects aim to create and enhance habitats for a diverse range of species that depend on the Salton Sea. Wetland restoration and the development of artificial islands provide nesting and feeding grounds for birds and fish.
• Collaborative Partnerships: Government agencies, environmental organizations, and local communities are working together to shape restoration efforts. Their combined efforts ensure a comprehensive approach that addresses the environmental, social, and economic aspects of the Salton Sea.

By implementing these restoration projects and initiatives, there is hope that the Salton Sea can regain its ecological balance, improve water quality, and safeguard the health and well-being of the surrounding communities.

The Salton Sea, located in California, offers a captivating blend of history, mystery, and ecological significance. Visitors have the opportunity to explore its stunning beaches, witness its diverse wildlife, and immerse themselves in its unique charm.

However, the Salton Sea also faces pressing environmental challenges that cannot be ignored. The lake’s receding water levels have led to increased salt concentration and pollution, impacting water quality and resulting in detrimental effects on the ecosystem. Restoration efforts are crucial to preserving the delicate balance of this natural wonder.

Understanding the intricacies of the Salton Sea’s ecology and environmental issues is essential for safeguarding its future. By delving deeper into the enigma surrounding this extraordinary body of water, we can work towards sustainable solutions, ensuring the well-being of its surrounding communities and maintaining the ecological integrity of the area.

Embarking on a visit to the Salton Sea offers a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the wonders and challenges of this natural gem. A serene beach getaway combined with the fascinating documentary-like qualities of the landscape make the Salton Sea an unforgettable destination. With a map in hand, eager travelers can unravel the story of this historical and ecologically vital site, contributing to its preservation for generations to come.

What is the history of the Salton Sea?

The Salton Sea, located in California, holds a rich history. It was formed thousands of years ago when the Colorado River diverted to the Salton Sink, a depression below sea level. The lake, once known as Lake Cahuilla, has seen cyclical behavior over time, with its water level rising and falling.

What are some attractions and tourism opportunities at the Salton Sea?

The Salton Sea was a thriving tourist destination in the mid-20th century, attracting celebrities like the Rat Pack and the Beach Boys. Today, it still offers unique attractions, including beaches for visitors to explore and experience its diverse wildlife.

How important is the Salton Sea in terms of ecology and wildlife?

The Salton Sea serves as an important ecosystem, supporting a diverse range of wildlife. It provides crucial nesting and breeding grounds for various bird species and is home to the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, which protects these wildlife populations.

What are the environmental challenges facing the Salton Sea?

The Salton Sea faces significant environmental challenges. Its receding water level has led to increased concentrations of salt and other pollutants, causing water quality issues. This has resulted in mass die-offs of fish and declines in wildlife populations. The exposed lakebed also produces aerosolized dust, posing health risks to nearby communities.

Are there any restoration efforts in place for the Salton Sea?

Yes, there are ongoing restoration projects and initiatives aimed at preserving the Salton Sea’s ecosystem, improving water quality, and mitigating the impact on local communities. These efforts are crucial for the long-term sustainability of the lake.

What can visitors do and see at the Salton Sea?

Visitors to the Salton Sea can explore its beaches, experience its diverse wildlife, and learn about its history and ecological importance. It offers unique opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

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Short history of the Salton Sea

When irrigation canals from the Colorado River jumped their levees near the U.S./Mexico border in 1905 on the desert east of San Diego, millions of gallons of fresh water spilled into the Salton Trough, historically an arm of the Lower Colorado River Delta at the head of the Gulf of California. When the water finally stopped, it filled a trough 45 miles long, 17 miles wide, and 83 feet deep.

The Salton Sea was born. Or was it?

If one looks back beyond 1905, one comes away with a different understanding. The current Salton Sea, which persists today, appears to be far more natural than the accident as it is commonly portrayed. Before levees and pumps reduced the lower Colorado River to a narrow, muddy channel, wet winters would regularly send it careening northwest-ward from Yuma, Arizona, where it would flood the Salton Trough before reaching the ocean at the head of the Gulf of California. Ancient Lake Cahuilla, which persisted until just 500 years ago, was at times even larger than the current Salton Sea – and productive enough to provide a delta fishery for the Indians in the region, whose fish traps are still visible far above the shores of the Sea today.

So, when birds began to flock to the sea during the 1900s, they were actually following ancient migratory paths developed over millions of years. Pelicans, Cormorants and terns began nesting on large islands formed at the southern end of the Sea, and shorebirds and gulls stopped to refuel along its shore. Rafts of Eared Grebes and ducks once again wintered on the open water of the Sea, which now covers 376 square miles (making it larger than Lake Tahoe).

But the Salton Sea isn’t the only important bird habitat in the area dependent on Colorado River water. The marshy irrigation canals and open agricultural fields of the Imperial Valley, immediately to the south, have also emerged as critical wintering and breeding areas for birds, including some that are confined to the pitifully-reduced wetlands of the lower Colorado (e.g. Yuma Clapper Rail). Other species found here have been pushed out of agricultural areas elsewhere in the state (e.g. Burrowing Owl, Mountain Plover), and now thrive in the Imperial Valley, as do thousands of shorebirds that use the flooded fields during late summer and spring migration, and countless songbirds that pour through the Salton Trough en route to northern breeding areas each spring and fall.

Over the past hundred years, a combination of naturally salty soils, high evaporation rates and constant run-off from the Imperial and Coachella valleys have made this now land-locked sea ever saltier, which significantly threatens the entire Salton Sea ecosystem. Meanwhile, increased pressure from urban water users have resulted in proposals for major water transfers away from agriculture (and the Salton Sea) toward growing cities in coastal southern California.

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History Of the Salton Sea: 11 Things (2024) You Need to Know

The history of the Salton Sea is fascinating.

This inland sea is a unique and beautiful ecotone located in California’s Riverside and Imperial Counties filled with opportunity and potential for both humans and wildlife alike.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of the Salton Sea, examining the most important things to know about its past to its current state.

We’ll also discuss some of the issues facing the Salton Sea today, as well as conservation efforts to (spoiler) revive its beauty.

1. Its Origin Is a Compelling Story

The Salton Sea is the largest lake in the state of California, yet it is also the lowest lake in North America at an elevation of -227 feet.

Located in California’s Colorado Desert (approx. 7 million acres) within the Imperial and Riverside counties, the lake has an impressive surface area of 350 square miles, and its volume is about 7.5 million acre-feet.

The history of the Salton Sea starts in 1905 when the Colorado River breached a poorly constructed dike and flooded an ancient lakebed known as the “Salton Sink”.

The river poured into the sink for nearly two years before the powerful flow of water was stopped by workers.

The result was the current lake, which features a depth of approximately 52 feet near its center.

2. Diverse Wildlife Once Thrived Here, But Not Anymore

The Salton Sea was once a thriving freshwater lake, abundant with species such as tilapia, gulf croaker, orangemouth corvina, and sargo.

Unfortunately, the rising salinity of the water since the 1960s has decimated the fish population, with a mere 3% of its original 100 million fish still in existence today.

Sadly, it is now too salty for many species and summer heat causes a lethal combination of salt and low oxygen levels that suffocates fish by the millions.

As a result, beaches are blanketed in scores of dead fish, a grim reminder of what this location used to be.

The Salton Sea is an important stop for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway, hosting more than 400 species of birds annually.

The majority of which are white pelicans.

With outbreaks of disease, less water, and a limited food supply, the avian population of the Salton Sea has suffered greatly over the past decades.

3. History of the Salton Sea 1930s: Tourism Was Booming

The Salton Sea once was a popular destination for recreation in the 1930s.

The lake offered a great escape from the hot desert climate and was home to activities such as fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, and bird watching.

In its heyday, the Salton Sea was a major tourist destination.

The lake featured beautiful resorts and attracted visitors from all over the state.

The 1950s and 1960s saw the Salton Sea manifest into a reputable resort destination, providing a plethora of recreational activities for locals and tourists alike.

Yacht clubs along the shoreline offered social gatherings with world-renowned stars such as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in attendance.

Scenic golf courses provided hours of entertainment, while boating activities including water skiing and fishing became popular among visitors thanks to abundant stocked fish populations.

Additionally, homes and schools began popping up around the lake to accommodate the growing population of vacationers.

During its prime, more than 1.5 million visitors visited the Salton Sea each year!

4. Its Water Quality Has Declined

The Salton Sea has been experiencing significant environmental degradation due to fertilizer runoff and poor water management practices.

As a result, the lake’s salinity has increased dramatically over the years, leading to an increase in hypersaline conditions that are hazardous to fish and birds alike.

The salinity, meaning the number of dissolved salts present in the water, is now 50% greater than that of the Pacific Ocean.

The Salton Sea’s salinity is 44 grams of salt per liter while the Pacific Ocean’s is 35 grams of salt per liter.

While the added buoyancy of the water is great for recreational activities, it also has devastating effects on the lake’s wildlife.

The increased salinity causes a decrease in oxygen levels and an inability for fish to survive, leading to a dramatic decline in the lake’s fish populations.

5. History of the Salton Sea 1990s: Unimaginable Toll on Wildlife After Water Quality Decline

By the 1990s, the lake’s salt content had become alarmingly high, leading to mass die-offs of fish and other aquatic life.

Nutrients from fertilizer runoff stimulated algal blooms , making matters worse as avian botulism spread in the lake’s waters.

The infamous Salton Sea is a sight to behold, even in its diminished state.

With so many fish tragically succumbing to the fluctuations in water levels, what used to be sandy beaches are now haunting monuments — large expanses of fish bones that serve as an eerie reminder of the life that once flourished here.

6. When the Fish Died, The Birds Followed Suit

The collapse of the fish population meant that there were no longer enough food sources for birds to survive.

This resulted in a significant decrease in the number of migratory birds using the lake as a stopover point, leading to further losses in biodiversity.

Those that did eat the fish were affected by avian botulism, a disease that caused paralysis and death in birds.

In a catastrophic event in 1996, over 14,000 birds died—nearly 10,000 of them pelicans—from consuming fish contaminated with botulism.

In an instant, nearly 1/3rd of the pelican population in the area disappeared.

With the scorched earth left behind by the mass bird deaths, news outlets began reporting on the toxic catastrophe that had befallen the Salton Sea.

7. History of the Salton Sea 1999: The Lake Began to Recede

As if the massive animal deaths weren’t bad enough, the lake began to recede in 1999 due to years of drought and unsustainable water management practices.

The Salton Sea rapidly began to shrink.

Many docks, homes, and businesses were left stranded as the water levels dropped drastically.

This prompted a change in water management practices and the U.S. Department of the Interior conducted an Environmental Impact Report and partnered with the Salton Sea Authority to devise a Strategic Science Plan and Alternatives Appraisal Report .

8. 9/11 Stopped Lake Restoration Efforts

Yet before these initiatives could be implemented, attention shifted following the tragic events of September 11th – leaving many revitalization dreams unrealized for what was once a bustling vacation paradise.

9. The Lake Is Attributed to the Health Problems of the Community

The residents of the Imperial Valley are all too familiar with the heartbreaking consequences of diminishing water levels at the Salton Sea.

The lake is believed to be the cause of several health issues plaguing the local community.

An unnerving mix of toxic dust, fumes, and bacteria clog the air and create a thick, dangerous haze that lingers over their homes.

This exposure is especially detrimental to children, as 20% of them suffer from asthma, a rate much higher than the national average.

With green, yellow, and red flags in place to signal air quality for kids with asthma, schools are forced to choose between risky playground time or indoor detainment when pollution levels are high.

The devastating effects of pollution don’t end here either; the windblown particles travel as far as Southern California and Arizona where people have even complained about noxious smells drifting into their towns.

What’s more concerning is this could just be the tip of the iceberg: scientists are still testing what exactly is in these particles and if they pose an even greater health risk to local Latino communities already suffering disproportionately from illnesses like asthma, cardiac disease, and lung cancer.

10. History of the Salton Sea 2000s: Restoration Efforts Are Underway

In 2003, California’s Imperial Irrigation District signed a groundbreaking 35-75-year winter transfer agreement , the largest of its kind in US history.

This agreement sent much-needed water to communities along the California coast at a substantial profit.

It was also an ingenious way for the San Diego County Water Authority and other districts to access critical water resources while conserving Colorado River water

In pursuit of greater efficiency, farmers swapped out flood irrigation for sprinklers and soil measurement devices to track when exactly to water their crops.

But it came at a cost.

With less run-off flowing into the lake, the shoreline receded further and further away from view; soon enough its waters had reached an even saltier level than the ocean itself.

The California legislature had tasked their Secretary of Resources with getting a restoration plan off the ground, one that would factor in various perspectives and proposals given by the Salton Sea Authority and its consultants in 2006.

The urgency of the Salton Sea crisis was felt loud and clear in 2015 when Governor Jerry Brown established the Salton Sea Task Force .

With solutions like the comprehensive Salton Sea Management Program, proposed habitat restoration and dust control projects could soon become a reality — at least for the initial 10-year plan.

A strong push for improved air quality is on the horizon, with 30,000 acres of lakebed areas planned to be restored by 2028.

These efforts not only provide hope for residents living near this beloved lake, but also for the wildlife that calls this lake home.

With any luck, this would be just what California needs to revitalize this once-beloved spot.

11. Plenty of Things to Do Near the Lake

It may not be the recreational hotspot that it once was, but there are still plenty of things to do near the Salton Sea.

A trip to the northeastern side of the Salton Sea doesn’t just provide a great opportunity for activities like hunting, fishing, swimming, and camping — it’s also a chance to learn about the history of the Salton Sea.

Start at the Visitor Center for an informative look into this special place, then make sure to treat yourself by stopping at one of the nearby fruit stands selling delicious local dates.

Do you love bananas? If so, get ready, because the International Banana Museum is in town.

Step into the one-room museum and you’ll feel like you’ve gone to Banana Heaven.

With over 20,000 items all about bananas and a 1999 Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of memorabilia dedicated to a single fruit, this is the place to be for true banana lovers.

Explore everything from the banana couch to the banana turntable, then grab a scoop of homemade banana ice cream or milkshake at the Banana Bar.

When you’re done, snap a selfie with the giant banana statue outside — who knows where that pic could end up!

Take a trip down memory lane and make sure to check out the historic Bombay Beach Drive-In.

Its flashy, atomic age sign is a sight to behold, and its miscellaneous collection of wrecked cars makes for a unique view.

Just like the lake, time has taken its toll on the cars at Bombay Beach Drive-In as well – their once bright and gleaming exteriors have turned old and rusty.

That doesn’t stop it from being an exciting sight, though, so hop in the car and head on over for some classic drive-in vibes!

Amid the Salton Sea’s fascinating geothermal activity, mud pots have emerged.

These lovely pockets of warm clay bubble and gurgle with activity, giving rise to miniature mud volcanoes!

An incredible sight, these mud pots emit carbon dioxide as their boiling muck vents out of the earth’s surface — a natural wonder you won’t want to miss.

Step inside the Imperial Sand Dunes of California — an unmissable stretch of 15 miles that has served as a backdrop to iconic movies like Star Wars.

There’s a lot to do here, from ATVing and camping (permits required) to taking in the stunning beauty of a desert oasis.

So bring your car and make the most of this natural wonder.

Just 90 minutes away lies the majestic Joshua Tree National Forest.

While this isn’t the closest location, the drive is worth it.

Spanning 800,000 acres of gorgeous Mojave Desert and San Andreas Fault landscape, this vast park is brimming with adventure.

Explore the hidden oases, go rock climbing and camping, and marvel at the star-filled night skies.

With so much to discover, this natural wonderland is not to be missed!

Final Thoughts

Despite its troubles, the Salton Sea still remains a historically significant destination.

Although it’s no longer the bustling resort paradise it once was, there are still several recreational activities to enjoy.

Tourists and locals alike can enjoy fishing, birdwatching, and off-roading on the lake’s shores. Just no swimming.

Natural hot springs offer a unique respite, while abandoned structures and artifacts from the 1950s and 1960s are scattered about like reminders of the lake’s storied past.

With ongoing restoration efforts underway, the hope remains that one day the Salton Sea will again become an attractive destination for visitors seeking to experience its unique beauty and history.

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Visiting Salton Sea: Your Guide to This Must-See California Attraction

The Salton Sea is one of the most environmentally significant places in California. It was once a booming tourist destination and attraction, but turned into an environmental disaster, leaving much of the surrounding towns and settlements abandoned and desolated.

But that does not mean to suggest that it’s not worth visiting the Salton Sea. Today, the Salton Sea attracts visitors wanting to experience its volcanic mud hot springs, observe the unique wildlife, and also swing by the famous Slab City, a lawless town that features many art installations.

For those undertaking a road trip through California, visiting the Salton Sea is definitely something to add to the itinerary. I had never heard of it, but while visiting Palm Springs, a friend suggested it as a day trip. I thought it was a great little escape into nature, and thought about what it must have been like in its heyday.

The History of Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake and it used to be a bustling tourist attraction. However, today it is a desolate, remote place in the desert. The history of the Salton Sea is quite a sad story, highlighting the grotesque consequences of climate change and human impact on the environment.

The lake was formed over a thousand years ago when the Colorado River spilled over into the Salton Basin creating intermittent lakes. Over the years, the freshwater lakes evaporated into the basin and became a desert, then were refilled again during rainstorms.

However, after human intervention, the Salton Sea changed, eventually becoming what it is today.

In 1901, the California Development Company dug irrigation canals from the Colorado River to supply water to the valley of California. However, engineers ​​cut too much from the bank and heavy floods rushed into the valley, creating the Salton Sea lake. 

By the time the breach was fixed, the Salton Sea had already formed into a huge lake. Since there was no runoff or drainage for the lake, the water was unable to leave and became stagnant. Some water evaporated, but the additional runoff from agricultural farming continued to add to the lake, which meant that the water level was constantly maintained.

For a time, the ecosystem thrived. The water coming from agricultural runoff allowed many species of birds and other wildlife to flourish around the lake. By the 1950s, Salton Sea was a successful resort area, attracting Hollywood celebrities in addition to families and well-to-do locals.

Unfortunately, the fertilizer in the runoff resulted in eutrophication, an excessive richness of nutrients in the water, and that caused large algae blooms to form and bacteria to grow. Eventually, the lake began to turn saline from these conditions, and in 1974, the State of California began to talk about how to reduce the salinity of the lake. 

By the 1980s, the lake was producing a putrid and noxious smell, and the smell of rotting fish began to not only repel tourists but the residents, too. With a few more years, the salinity of the Salton Sea had reached a hypersaline state, a term used to describe a body of water saltier than the sea. The State of California began advising people not to eat the fish from the lake. As the lake became more and more polluted – and smelly – tourism continued to decline.

By the 1990s the salinity had increased again, continuing to cause catastrophic effects on the wildlife. Approximately 150,000 eared grebes died as a result of the salinity of the lake, and 7.6 million tilapia and croakers suffocated from lack of oxygen that had been depleted by the algae. 

Over the last twenty years or so, officials have discussed trying to save the lake, but after years of political ping-ponging of responsibility, nothing has been done. 

Today, only a few people live near the Salton Sea and most of the towns around it remain abandoned. The Salton Sea State Recreation Area is still open on the northeastern side for hunting, fishing, swimming, and camping.

Things to Do and See at the Salton Sea

While the Salton Sea is mostly desolate land, there are still things to see and do in the recreational area. It’s always best to plan ahead, and double-check websites and information sources because many places are closed during the off-season or on weekdays.

Visitors should note that there is an entrance fee for the day-use area of $7 for sightseeing, fishing, picnicking, and birding. When we visited in the early Covid days, the fee was not being charged nor enforced.

If you want to camp, it will cost you $20 to access campsites plus $30 to hook up your RV. More details about fees can be found on the Salton Sea park webpage .

Salton Sea Visitor Center

A must-stop on a visit is the Salton Sea State Park Visitors Center. This is where you can find information on the history of the lake and its surroundings, and is a great place to start your visit. It’s full of maps, guidebooks, and background information. Since we knew little about the Salton Sea or the surrounding area, we picked up important information for the visit. There are also plenty of things to buy – books, t-shirts, coffee mugs, stuffed animals – with proceeds benefiting the area.

The visitors center is only open during peak seasons from Wednesdays-Sundays.

Birding at Sonny Bono Bird Area

While many birds perished in the past due to the toxicity of the lake, some species still remain. If you’re interested in bird watching, then there is a platform at the visitors center that is ideal for viewing the birds. Another great spot to look for birds is from the hiking trail that overlooks the beach and lake. The area is named for Sonny Bono, former Palm Springs Mayor who championed the restorations of the Salton Sea.

Birds tend to migrate to the lake during the winter months (November-February), which is the ideal time to see them. On a future visit, we’ll be sure to bring along binoculars.

Fun fact for those who may not remember: Sonny Bono was the husband of Cher, and the couple was a popular recording duo, Sonny and Cher.

Fishing in the Salton Sea

While it is no longer possible to go boating at the Salton Sea due to declining water levels, it is still possible to fish at the Salton Sea. Due to the high saline content and toxicity of the lake, any fish you catch should be thrown back into the lake and not eaten. Today, though, only the desert pupfish survives in the sea and is listed as an endangered species in the United States.

Fishing requires a $7 entrance fee from the Salton Sea State Recreation Area Headquarters where you will also find a fishing jetty. 

The best time of year to go fishing is in the summer months (June-September). Be sure to bring a hat, plenty of water, and sunscreen. The weather is hot and can be brutal.

Salton Sea Bubbling Mud Pools

One of the most remarkable sites in the Salton Sea area is the volcanic bubbling mud pools, which are connected to the Salton Buttes – a group of five volcanoes in the state of California. The pops of mud can reach several feet in the air.

The volcanic bubbling mud pools are not the easiest of the Salton Sea tourist attractions to find, which is why we missed them. Next time, we sleuth them out.

To find the mud pools, you need to head towards a big field at the intersection between Davis Road and Schrimpf Road on the southeast side of the Salton Sea. It is roughly a mile and a half away from Mullet Island. There are also mud pools on Mullet Island, but they’re gated off to keep vehicles away.

When looking for the mud pools, you’ll need to be careful as they are not fenced off and are just a short distance from the road. You’ll know when you find them, as you’ll see large mud formations that protrude from the ground. Note that the road surface can be wet in some places and mud can stick to your tires. Drive slowly and carefully.

The pools are impressive, but not without their dangers. They are volcanic, which means they are very hot. Do not climb on the mud volcanoes or touch the mud pool. This area is not suitable for pets or children.

Bombay Beach Ruins

Back when the Salton Sea was a thriving resort town, Bombay Beach was the place to be. However, today it is home to discarded homes, trailers, and businesses, that have lain abandoned for the last 30-years.

Walking around the ruins of Bombay Beach is both haunting and fascinating at the same time. Photographers will love the unique effects of decay that are left on these structures. However, it’s not all a state of rot. The town has become a project for artists who have each taken a building and turned it into something unique, changing it from a remote desert ghost town into an arts district.

Art Installations of Slab City: The Sole Tree, Gemstone Truck, Salvation Mountain, East Jesus

And it’s not just the Bombay Beach area that has artists inspired.

Be sure to allocate time to wander around all the art installations in Slab City, a small lawless town in the southwest area of the park. In Slab City, you’ll notice the colorful and ornately decorated buildings before you even enter. From iron sculptures to hand-painted buildings, this is like a permanent Burning Man city. 

One of my favorite art installations in the city is the Sole Tree – a tree full of shoes. Opposite the tree is a gemstone truck, a truck covered in gemstones. Other popular art installations are the Salvation Mountain, a colorful piece of ‘slab art’ by Leonard Knight, who spent 25 years creating this incredible site that can be seen from the entrance to the town. 

East Jesus is a labyrinth of cars, sculptures, and buildings. The artist, Charlie Russell, wanted to create an economical and habitable art installation. Take a visit and see how well you think he did.

International Banana Museum – The Most Quirky Place to Visit at the Salton Sea

The International Banana Museum is one of the more unique Salton Sea attractions and it is exactly what it sounds like. The one-room museum of banana-related merchandise holds the world record for the most banana-related merchandise (25,000 items).

​​From the outside, it is connected to a convenience store for the local campground, but it is easily distinguishable by the sign and the banana sitting in the chair.

The Museum is open, hours are 1-5:30 pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Admission fees are located on their website.

Where is the Salton Sea and How to Get There?

The Salton Sea spans across southern Riverside and northern Imperial counties in Southern California on the Pacific Flyway. 

Driving from Los Angeles, take US-101 South towards Idaho, and then move onto CA-86 South towards Salton City. The CA-86 takes you along the west coast of the Sea. You can stop at Desert Shores, Salton Sea Beach, or continue on to Salton City.

Driving from San Diego, take I-8 East, then turn onto CA-79 North and on to CA-78 East. This will take you to the CA-86 which goes along the west coast of the Salton Sea as explained above. 

Parking lots are open at Mecca Beach, Corvina Beach, and Salt Creek.

What People Ask About Salton Sea

Can i swim in the salton sea.

No. Because of the toxic algae outbreak in the water, the California State Water Resources Control Board does NOT recommend swimming in the Salton Sea.

Is the Salton Sea Worth Visiting?

Yes, Even though you cannot swim in the lake, it is definitely worth visiting. The desolate towns surrounding the lake, such as Slab City and Bombay Beach are home to some wonderful art installations. Visiting the birding area gets you a look at some of the wildlife in the area. And visiting is a close up look at the drastic effects of climate change firsthand

Why is the Salton Sea Abandoned?

Because of the toxicity of the lake and the putrid smell it creates, tourism stopped flooding the area. As a result of the declining tourism, the residents began to leave too. Pretty soon, no one was left.

Final thoughts on Visiting Salton Sea

Though it has a sorrowful history, the Salton Sea is an important landmark in the state of California and has some incredible natural phenomena to witness. The volcanic mud pools are just one example of how primitive this area still is. 

Although the towns have been left abandoned and in a desolate state, there is a silver lining. This once-popular vacation destination for Hollywood stars is now an artist’s playground. It’s once again become a unique and spectacular place to visit.

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What Happened To the Salton Sea? The Story of The Salton Sink

Once a desert oasis, the Salton Sea has been transformed into an unfruitful wasteland with questionable waters. Here's what happened to it.

June 08, 2023

Disclaimer: California.com is not receiving any type of compensation for reviewing any of the products or services mentioned in this article.

The Salton Sea is a strange, lesser-known saline lake located along the San Andreas Fault, close to coveted destinations such as Palm Springs and Joshua Tree . As the state’s predominantly largest body of water, the endorheic rift lake is critical to wildlife habitat, especially migratory birds. But the mesmerizing Salton Sea has been transformed from a beloved desert oasis into an unfruitful wasteland with questionable waters. So, what's really going on here, and where did it all go wrong?

History Of the Salton Sea

In 1905, the Salton Sea was accidentally created when water from the Colorado River spilled out of an ill-constructed California Development Company irrigation system. Over the duration of several years, the lake expanded until people put a stop to the flow. By that time, a 400-square-mile body of water formed on the basin in SoCal, creating the Salton Sink.

The Salton Sea is situated at one of the lowest points in the country — its surface is over 200 feet below sea level — so its water does not flow out through a river or stream; all of this is due to the tectonic tension within faults that are pushing in opposite directions, thus forming a sunken basin. 

Since the Salton Sea had no outlet, it was referred to as an endorheic lake, where the water either seeps into the ground or evaporates — a condition whereby the water is left with an extremely high level of salt. During the 1950s and 1960s, the salt level in the water was considerably lower than it is today, and as a result, the Salton Sea was a hot spot for tourists. Throughout the years, the lake gained the reputation of being a beautiful oasis, attracting droves of tourists during the warmer months.

In the 1970s, the allure of the Salton Sea significantly waned. Challenges such as increased salinity, frequent flooding along its banks, and the overflow of fertilizers from adjacent agricultural lands transformed this once bustling man-made lake into a scene of disarray. These environmental issues led to a sharp decline in the number of visitors, rendering the area reminiscent of a deserted town.

The Salton Sea Attractions You Need to See 

Despite its downfall, the Salton Sea still offers intriguing, worthwhile activities. From parks and preserves to quirky attractions and historic places, these are the spots to visit during a trip to the Salton Sea.

1. Slab City

Known by its slogan “The Last Free Place,” California’s Slab City is an off-the-grid alternative lifestyle community, with its residents (usually non-permanent) living in trailers, tents and old school buses. The Slab is located in a remote part of the Sonoran Desert on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. The area’s population goes up to thousands during the winter months, and below 200 during the hotter months, when the desert heat becomes unbearable. Slab City residents and visitors have their own skate park, church, grandstand for shows, and even a private radio station. 

What brings people to Slab City near Salton Sea beside all the freedom in the world and the fact that money has little value here, is its weird desert art attractions . Leonar Knight’s Salvation Mountain is one of the highlights of the region; the hillside visionary environment is the most colorful place in the desert, and people continue enhancing its colors. East Jesus is another Slab City area with impressive art; it is like an open art gallery of unusual pieces, with new installations being added to the collection, whenever an artist feels like it. It’s easy to say that no two visits to East Jesus look the same. With all that said, the Slab is a place you don’t want to miss during your visit to the Salton Sea.

2. Salton Sea State Recreational Area

Found on the northeastern side of the Salton Sea, the park boasts activities such as hunting, fishing, swimming, and camping. The Visitor Center is a great place to start the trip, so you can learn more about the history of the Salton Sea. Stop by one of the many fruit stands by the side of the road and indulge in local dates.

3. Bombay Beach 

Bombay Beach is an artist hub, which looks like a post-apocalyptic art scene on the shores of Salton Sea. Once a booming resort town, Salton Sea’s Bombay Beach is now an abandoned town with unique and weird art scattered all over.

There are tons to see here, but some of the most notable stops include the Ski Inn, a functioning bar with no reservations accepted — it has even been featured in an episode of The Mentalist, where it was renamed “Borrego Gas Diner.”  Another outstanding sight is the historic Bombay Beach Drive-In, which is probably the most unique drive-in movie theater you’ll see in California; it displays a miscellaneous collection of wrecked cars, parked as if they're waiting for screening. The Fish Airplane is another top attraction, a giant metal fish with wings, which rotates every once in a while. And a final must-see would be the Bombay Beach Ruins, located at the Bombay Beach Marina, with quirky stuff like a pirate ship made of driftwood, a giant mysterious metal cube, and a sea monster. Your visit to Bombay at the beach will be a good opportunity for a lot of instagrammable photos and reels.

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4. Dos Palmas Preserve

Found in the heart of Mecca, Dos Palmas Preserve displays secret gardens packed with lush groves of fan palms. The 1,400-acre expanse provides ample space for towering trees to grow. Explore the earthy springs and keep an eye out for the Yuma clapper rail — a North American bird — and other species native to the land.

5. The International Banana Museum

Located near the north shore of the Salton Sea , the International Banana Museum is a one-room display of over 25,000 banana-related items. After indulging in everything banana — from the banana couch to the banana turntable — you'll be greeted by a Banana Bar. Go bananas, and order a scoop of homemade banana ice cream or a delicious milkshake. Don’t forget to take a memorable photo with the giant banana statue out front.

6. Imperial Sand Dunes

Sand dunes spanning 15 miles long and 3 miles wide portray a typical desert-like atmosphere. The Imperial Sand Dunes have served as a Southern California film location for world-renowned movies such as Star Wars; it's also quite the attraction for dune-buggy fans. (Permits are necessary if you're ATVing or camping here.) For a chill walk or hike on the dunes, there are a few available spots to park your car for no extra fee.

The bubbling mud pots are hidden gems of the Salton Sea region, often described as pockets of warm clay. The mud bubbles and gurgles on the surface due to geothermal activity, forcing warm water to rise. A few of the featured mudpots have been bubbling for so long that they have now created miniature mud volcanoes. 

8. Date Farms

With the number of visitors and celebrity guests dwindling, the Salton Sea area has become deserted and rundown. Thankfully, date farms have remained a constantly growing industry and play an important role in the region's economy. Stop by Bautista Family Farms — where visitors are welcome on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays — to learn more about farming and taste ultra-fresh dates.

Where's the strangest place you've journeyed to? If it’s not Salton Sea, then you’re looking at a California winter road trip .

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Salton Sea: Attractions, Art, Mud Volcanoes and Dead Fish

The Salton Sea is one of those unique parts of California history that has changed a lot in the last century. Formerly a destination for Hollywood’s elite to play at, now this park is a much more desolate and a somewhat smelly place that gets a lot fewer visitors. In that, there is a charm that makes it worth the visit, even if just for the unique art communities that thrive in this brutal desert. If you go, here are all of the things you can visit in the Salton Sea from north to south and let me know what I left off in the comments.

• Make sure to check the hours online for anything you want to go to as there are a lot of places with weird hours.
• Make sure to get gas before you head in as there are not a lot of stops around the lake for it.
• I wrote this in 2016, so some of the information may have changed, but I have been back many times since and still enjoy visiting this area

Video from 2023

Here is a video I made from my most recent trip to the Salton Sea if you want to contrast it to what I wrote in 2016 in this post.

The International Banana Museum

This small museum is a great place to stop as you enter the area. It literally has banana everything! Make sure to check the hours, as it is only open Friday – Monday most weeks, and you don’t want to miss it. Read all about it here .

Salton Sea State Park and Visitor Center

This is the official state park in the Salton Sea. It has camping, hiking, beach, and fishing access. The park offers some crazy experiences such as a beach that is basically only dead fish, bones, and gills. You have to see it to believe it.

Salton Sea State Park is also where the visitor center is so you can get info on the history of the lake and the area that surrounds it if it is open.

Read more about the state park here .

If you are a fan of trains like me, this road follows a train track, and there are a lot of opportunities to stop and take pictures. I love photographing the trains alongside the stark desert.

Bombay Beach Ruins

The Bombay Beach Ruins is a total trip. Located at the west end of the small community of Bombay Beach, there are a lot of ruins from the houses and mobile homes that used to be on this stretch of the lake. There are TVs and tires on the beach and many different types of broken-down houses to interact and photograph. It is a must-stop in the area, and you can read my full post here .

Salvation Mountain

A lot of people come out here just to visit Salvation Mountain, and it is worth it. This mountain is a labor of love for one man and is a massive accomplishment.  I guarantee you will tell others about your time here if you go as it is that unique. Read my whole post on it here .

If you stop at Salvation Mountain and turn around, then you miss a lot of excellent Salton Sea places. Right after Salvation Mountain is the “town” of Slab City, which is essentially a community of people that come and live in this vast desert during the winter months. Many just pull up in an RV and stay, making art and adding to the unique aspects of the community. Here are the things to see:

The Sole Tree

Named for the soles of the shoes that hang from its branches, the sole tree is a fun stop in Slab City, and it is right across from the bedazzled truck.

Bedazzled Truck

Right across from the sole tree, this truck is covered with rhinestones; it’s a sight to see for sure.

Slab City Bike Sign

The Slab City sign is cool as it shows the vast art community that exists here and their style. The sign is even made out of an old bike. After seeing Slab City, check out the art community at the end called East Jesus.

I can’t explain this place very well; you just need to visit it. It is a community of artists that live together, create art and party in the desert, and the stuff they make is super awesome. It’s a great stop for sure, and the people there have always been nice when I have gone. Here is my full post on East Jesus .

Buckshot Deli and Diner

I have eaten here before, and they have alright burritos and salsa. It is often hard to find places open in this area, so this cafe is a good stop if you are hungry.

The Bubbling Mud Pools

I have no idea if this is private property or not, so make sure you look for signs. The mud pots are located in the middle of a field and are boiling pools of mud that pop like bubble gum when you go out and see them. Not easy to get to but worth the effort. Here is my post on it .

Sonny Bono Bird Area

There is a hiking trail here to a rock that overlooks the beach and lake. There is also a visitors center that talks about the birds of the area and has a platform for looking for them. If you are a bird fan, this is where you need to be. The best time is when it is getting cooler near November.

So there it is my guide to the Salton Sea. Make sure to bring a camera and have fun if you go there as this is a place that I guarantee you will at least consider unique when you visit. Let me know if I left anything off in the comments. I wrote all about the hike here .

Here is a video I made on spending 24 hours in the Salton Sea.

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Finding a “sea” in the middle of the sweeping desert might seem like a mirage, but the Salton Sea is very real. The massive and intriguing body of water—really a huge lake—is found just east of Greater Palm Springs and makes for a fascinating day trip.  As you tour the area surrounding the 115 miles of shoreline, you’ll uncover myriad discoveries, from remnants of its glory days as a Hollywood playground to migrating birds that break the stillness of the water. You may even discover some surprising oddities—from bubbling mud pots to an internationally known “museum.” Plan a leisurely drive and bring along a sense of adventure while you “circle the Sea”—California’s largest lake.

Date Shakes & Oranges

Follow Highway 86 as it departs Indio and begins to reveal lush groves of date palms and citrus groves that fill the open desert leading to the west shore of the Salton Sea. It is a glimpse of how the entire Coachella Valley may have looked in the early 1900s with views of green, bushy citrus trees, limbs dripping in oranges and lemons and palms silhouetted against the hills.

The arrival of the first date palm from the Middle East in the 1890s brought about large-scale date farming in California. No place does it better than the Coachella Valley, where date farms line the agricultural byways. Thermal is home to the valley’s largest Medjool date crop , with informal fruit and produce stands dotting the stretch of highway between Thermal and the Salton Sea. Plan time to stop for a date shake, a whipped ice cream and chopped date concoction that will put you set the stage for the interesting adventures ahead.

West Shore & Southern Tip | Salton Sea

The west shore is populated by just a few stops, including a small chamber of commerce visitor’s center. Continue south towards Calexico, veering east at Westmoreland, nestled within the fertile Imperial Valley, to reach the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge on the southern tip of the lake. The 2,200-acre wildlife refuge, just 40 miles north of the Mexican border, is your first stop before cutting over to the east shoreline that connects with Highway 111 and continues all the way to Mecca, then back to Indio.

The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge was named to honor the late celebrity politician after his untimely death, however, the refuge was first established in 1930 by President Herbert Hoover. Located along the important course of the Pacific Flyway, the refuge’s feathered visitors have learned to adapt to the changing face of the Salton Sea—from the water’s salinity to shrinking marshland.

Today, thousands of waterfowl and other birds spend the winter at the refuge, including some endangered species such as the Yuma clapper rail. You may spot white pelicans basking in the setting sun, yellow-footed gulls or black-bellied plovers; more than 70 percent of the California Burrowing Owl population is found within the Salton Sea’s ecosystem. Bring your binoculars and climb the observation tower here or enjoy an easy hike on trails leading from the visitor center.

Your next stop is harder to find, but worth the trouble. The amazing Mud Volcanoes and Mud Ponds have been formed by geothermal seismic activity, complete with gurgling mud pots and mini volcanic motion that radiates serious heat. To experience this phenomenon, drive straight on Sinclair from the refuge center a few miles before linking to Highway 111, going north.  Located about nine miles through the town of Niland is Davis Road. The road leading to the seismic area is paved for a half mile, but just past the paved portion is a sign for the Imperial Wildlife Area, Fish Ponds and Mud Pots. The Mud Volcanoes, on private property, are reached by going back to Davis Road, and turning right to the intersection of Davis and Scrimpf roads.  

East Shore | Salton Sea

As you begin to circle up to the Salton Sea’s the East Shore, your next stop was actually declared a national treasure by the Congressional Record of the United States after Senator Barbara Boxer described it as “a unique and visionary sculpture.” Salvation Mountain is unlike any other outdoor art installation you are apt to see. The colorful creation by the late Leonard Knight is part mural, part Bible verses and totally folk art, made from adobe, straw and paint. Since Knight’s death in 2014, volunteers have maintained the site, and a charity has been established to support its future care.

Adjacent to the Mountain is a community known as Slab City , often referred to as one of the last free cities in America. The abandoned Marine facility that hosts remnant slabs from the original base is home to winter inhabitants who are mostly retirees as well as some fulltime residents that relish life “off the grid.” Makeshift campsites, a library and even a nightclub and golf course in pure desert fill the large expanse that was once Camp Dunlap.

North Shore | Salton Sea

Heading further up the shoreline toward Mecca, is the Salton Sea that many remember from its resort heyday-- Bombay Beach . Guests swam, golfed and waterskied all day and partied at night at the Yacht Club. The beach, once populated by celebrities, now reveals sad remnants of days gone by—from fish carcasses to abandoned piers. Further up the northern coast, the restored North Shore Yacht Club is now a community center that represents a bright spot in the faded scenery.

Nine miles before Mecca, is a world-famous phenomenon—the International Banana Museum . The museum that was born out of owner/curator Fred Garbutt’s need to “collect” is one of a kind. With more than 20,000 banana-related items—from toys to books—the museum is a bright yellow salute to the fruit in every conceivable way.  You can even celebrate with a banana split—if you haven’t indulged on too many date shakes along the way!

Photo courtesy of Laura Hunt Little

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