Key Facts About California's Salton Sea
- Type: Large, shallow, saline terminal lake (no natural outlet).
- Location: Sonoran Desert, southeastern California.
- Surface Area: ~350 sq mi (910 km²) – largest lake in California by area.
- Salinity: ~44 ppt (about 10× saltier than the ocean).
- Origin: Formed in 1905 when Colorado River floods breached an irrigation canal, filling the Salton Sink.
- Birdlife: Over 400 species recorded; critical migratory stopover.
- Fishery: Tilapia, bass, catfish, trout (though salinity threatens sustainability).
- Environmental Challenges: Pollution, rising salinity, habitat loss, receding shoreline, air quality issues from exposed playa.
Wanderlust World