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Image catalogue number
970177T

Sand tufa formation at Mono Lake.

Tufas are limestone structures that are the result of a chemical reaction between carbonate rich Mono lake water and calcium rich spring water. Since it needs both spring and lake water for the reaction to take place, tufa formation only takes place below the surface level of the lake.

Sand Tufas are a special kind of tufa that are formed below the surface of the sand where springs bubble up at the lake edge.

The sand surrounding the spring's path is saturated with lake water. The chemical reaction that takes place in the wet sand around the edge of the spring forms hard tubes of sand grains cemented by limestone.

These tubes form completely under the surface of the sand and are not visible.

Beginning in 1941, water that would normally flow into Mono Lake was diverted to supply water for the increasing needs of the Los Angles area. This caused the water level in Mono Lake to drop dramatically.

As the water level was dropping, the lake's wave action washed away loose sand from around the hard spring tubes or "sand tufas" exposing them.

As the lake level continued to drop formations of sand Tufas were left behind on what has become dry land.

Mono Lake, California