Located in the southeastern corner of California near the Arizona border, the vast Salton Sea is the result of both natural and man-made phenomenon occurring over the course of many centuries.
One of the first known iterations of the Salton Sea was actually called Lake Cahuilla, created around 700 A.D. by the powerful Colorado River flowing north into the closed desert basin known as the Salton Sink rather than south into the Gulf of California.
In the early 1900s, engineers from the California Development Company dug irrigation canals from the Colorado River to feed the prospering nearby agricultural valleys. When the river's silt began to pile up and impede the flow, a cut was made in its western bank to allow more water to enter the valley. But heavy floods at various times over the years breached the canals, allowing the river to fill the huge basin and create the present-day Salton Sea.
Surrounded by three mountain ranges, this so-called sea is technically a terminal lake because it has no outflow. The little inflow it receives comes from scant annual rainfall (less than 3 inches), agricultural runoff from surrounding valleys, and storm water and municipal effluent carried by nearby creeks and streams.
One little known fact is that the Salton Sea is the largest lake in California, bigger than Lake Tahoe. Reaching a maximum depth of more than 50 feet, it is approximately 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. It covers a surface area of 376 square miles. Occupying one of the lowest spots on earth at an elevation of -227 feet below sea level, the sea is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a vital avian migratory path, and its abundance of fish provides essential nourishment for many species of birds on their annual flights.
Even with its remote location and extremely harsh climate where summertime temperatures soar above 120 degrees F, the Salton Sea and the surrounding area has long been a popular recreation destination. Attracting more than 150,000 visitors annually, the Salton Sea State Recreation Area offers a variety of activities, including boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, camping, hiking, off-roading, bird watching and nature photography
Over the years the forces of man and nature have unfortunately threatened the sea's existence. A variety of nutrients contained in agricultural runoff, and excessive amounts of salt carried from the river and from years of evaporation, have drastically altered the sea's oxygen levels.
This deadly combination impacts the reproduction of fish which the birds, and fishermen, rely upon. There have been several mass die-offs of birds reported in the last decade, thought to be the result of fish acquiring botulism bacteria. The fish become ill and are eaten by birds, which then contract the disease.
Despite these threats, the breathtaking 360-degree views of mountains, sea and sky, combined with the barren but strikingly beautiful desert landscapes, make the one-of-a-kind Salton Sea a must-see for visitors and recreational enthusiasts.
