The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. Located in Imperial County some 240 km (150 mi) south of Los Angeles, Salton Sea was once a multimillion-dollar marine paradise, the haunt of wealthy vacationers and celebrity entertainers including Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys.
But then something started to go terribly wrong. The lake began to dry up, threatening the fate of fish, migratory bird species, and even public health. Increased salinity and toxic chemicals polluted its once pristine waters. The hotels emptied and houses were abandoned. Very soon the exclusive resorts lining its shores resembled ghost towns.
So, what happened? Click through the gallery and find out more about one of the worst ecological disasters in recent memory.
The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California. Set in the Colorado Desert and spanning the state's Imperial and Coachella valleys, the lake's surface area is currently 889 sq km (343 sq mi).
The sea is not the product of the powers of nature. Instead, it's man-made, created from an engineering mistake.
As the basin filled, the town of Salton and surrounding land was submerged. The sudden influx of water and the lack of any drainage from the basin resulted in the formation of the Salton Sea.
In the 1950s and '60s, the Salton Sea enjoyed success as a resort destination. Along the western shore, places like Salton City, Salton Sea Beach, and Desert Shores became favorite vacation retreats.
The lake's fragile ecosystem was in grave danger of collapsing. With pollutants pouring into the sea, numerous fish species perished, including millions of tilapia, their bleached skeletons littering the shore.
The ambitious plans include providing clean and safe habitats for fish and birds by building new water bodies for them. And the redevelopment of Salton City has already commenced, driven in part by the escalating California housing market.
See also: The amazing sunken forest of Lake Kaindy.
The Salton Sea: from paradise to purgatory
Why is California's largest inland lake disappearing?
TRAVEL Salton sea
The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. Located in Imperial County some 240 km (150 mi) south of Los Angeles, Salton Sea was once a multimillion-dollar marine paradise, the haunt of wealthy vacationers and celebrity entertainers including Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys.
But then something started to go terribly wrong. The lake began to dry up, threatening the fate of fish, migratory bird species, and even public health. Increased salinity and toxic chemicals polluted its once pristine waters. The hotels emptied and houses were abandoned. Very soon the exclusive resorts lining its shores resembled ghost towns.
So, what happened? Click through the gallery and find out more about one of the worst ecological disasters in recent memory.