The Salton Sea

Boom, bust, and toxicity.

227 feet below sea level on the southern end of the San Andreas fault lies the Salton Sea. The lowest point in the US outside of Death Valley and full of mystery and caution. A place destined to die from inception.

Created in 1905 when the Colorado River breached a canal project locals hailed it as a paradise and the next Riviera. Now, fed mainly by agricultural runoff the lake is drying up leaving dead birds, fish, and toxic dust in its wake.

Plagued with algae blooms from fertilizer this sea has no outlet like a common lake. Water comes in and only leaves through evaporation thus the salinity constantly increases and now the lake is more saline than ocean water. Couple the evaporation with triple digit temperatures during the year the lake is drying up fast.

For more info check out this resource from the California Fish and Wildlife