Located at the northern end of the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierras, at Lee Vining, Mono Lake's sureal landscape was created by Los Angeles' thirst for water. Water was diverted from the surrounding melting snowpack, causing the water level to fall, revealing these interesting tufa formations of hardened calcium and bicorbonate. The water is extremely salty and home to brine shrimp that attract large numbers of seagulls and other birds.