Bridgeport
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, some 24 miles south of Bridgeport off US 395 in Lee Vining, is a protected area centered on Mono Lake, an “inland sea.” One of the oldest lakes in North America, the shallow water in this nearly 65-square-mile lake is more than twice as salty as the ocean and highly alkaline. It is a haven for colonies of brine shrimp and up to 2 million birds.
“Tufa towers” are composed of calcium carbonate and shaped over time by the interaction of the alkaline lake water and surrounding freshwater springs. The best view of the twisty spires is at the South Tufa Area.