The Record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1902-1904, 1903-11-20
DEAD SEAS OF THE
WEST.
Lakes Without Outlet
Close to This Section.

Mono Lake and Owens Lake, which
are situated, one in Mono county, and
the other in Inyo county, California,
on the eastern slope of the Sierra Ne
vadas, are as truly "Dead Seas' as the
famous bearer of the name in Pales-
tine. These lakes are very similar in
character, although slight differences
are found in the mineral qualities of
their waters fupon chemical analysis.
Indeed, in different portions of the
same lake the composition is found to
vary, influenced, nc doubt, by the prox-
unity of the various fresh water and
other spring. that rise from the bot
tom or are found on the borders.
The lakes are of substantially the
same size, fourteen or eighteen miles
long by eight or ten broad, Owens
Lake being the larger. The waters of
both are highly chlorinated and aka
line, the taste being more like bit
ter brine than anything else, aud to-
tally unfit for use unless condensed.
Its action is excessively diuretic, even
in small quantities.
At one time they must have been
much larger than at present, as is
shown by the beach terraces on all
sides. They receive much of their
water and the chemical salts from
the rivers and creeks which flow
through volcanic soil and empty into
them. By evaporation of the water and
concentration of the salts deposited
there for ages the mineral ingredients
are constantly increasing in amount.
Numerous springs are found all over
the lakes. The most curious of these
are some of the fresh water springs,
holding in solution small quantities of
calcium carbonate which precipitates
and deposits saround the openings of
the springs, forming irregular tubes,
clustered together in columns. These
vase-shaped structures are often ten
to forty feet long, rising from the bot
tom upward and above the surface
In the center of these columnar pillars
are small holes, through which flows
this sweet water, making remarkable
overfowing fountains.
The islands In these lakes, of which
there are several, all of volcanic ORR
gin, and over the surface of them are
hot springs and jets of hot steam,
making the surrounding water quite
warm. On some of the islands are
craters, fifty or more feet in diameter,
now filled with water.
The country round about shows un-
mistakeable evidences of great volcanic
activity in recent geologic ages, and
undoubtedly Mono Lake itself is large
extinct crater.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable
character of the water, which contains
nearly 5000 grains of solids to each
gallon, life is found beneath its sur
face. Small, curious, worm-like organ
isms are plainly visible to the naked
eye near the surface of the water.
The larvae of these animals are thrown
upon the shores by the waves at
certains seasons, and there accumu-
late in large quantities. The Indians
gather these and dry them, consider
ing them great delicacy.
The dried beds of what were once
many similar lakes or seas are found
throughout the southern portion of
California and in Nevada. 1t is these
old lake beds that are being found so
rich in nitrate of Soda, borax, sodium
salts. The gathering of these substan-
ces Is rapidly growing to be a very I'M
portant industry; an industry that will
grow enormously in the coming years.
-Mininu and Euuineerinu Review