Tufa towers at Mono Lake, California. Mono Lake "formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake which make its water alkaline." Only brine shrimp and alkali flies live in and on the lake. The shrimp and flies attract numerous birds. The tufa, pictured here are comprised of calcite (CaCO3).

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