What is Mono Lake?
[[File:Originmono.jpg|thumb|right]] '''Mono Lake''' is a saline [[lake]] on the east side of the [[Sierra Nevada (US)|Sierra Nevada]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. It is [[endorheic]], meaning that it does not connect with the sea. It is fed by streams flowing off the east side of the mountain range, including Rush Creek, Lee Vining Creek and Mill Creek. Lee Vining Creek has its [[headwaters]] near Tioga Pass, near [[Yosemite National Park]]. The lake covers 69 square [[mile]]s (180 square [[kilometer]]s) and is about {{convert|4.7|mi|km}} long. It is a very ancient lake, and is thought to have formed 760,000 years ago. In the [[20th century]], the city of [[Los Angeles]] began to take water from the streams feeding Mono Lake. This caused the lake to fall, exposing unique [[tufa]] formations. {{US-geo-stub}} [[Category:Lakes of California]] [[Category:Mono County, California]]