Exploring on the Rim
Standing on the rim of Soda Lake gives such a peaceful view and at first glance
it appears as a man-made reservoir out in the desert.
However if you look past
the cottonwood trees, rabbit bush and salt grass there are glimpses of the
violent past that helped form Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake.
The Soda Lake basin was created by a collapsed volcano cone, which includes
the larger Soda Lake, 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) in length and its sibling to the
west the 660 feet (200 meters) Little Soda Lake. They were possibly formed when
magma rose close to the surface, boiled the groundwater and caused an explosive
eruption.
Basalt bombs, dark rocks of different sizes, litter the rim and give evidence of
the volcano’s violent eruption. Careful footing is needed because the sand is
very soft, which might give me a much too close encounter with the water.
Both lakes are the remnants of two young volcanoes or technically
speaking: maars. USGS defines Maars as "tuff cones"-- shallow, flat-floored
craters that were formed above a breccia-filled volcanic pipe or
diatreme.
A pure form of sodium bicarbonate or soda from which the lakes are
named was discovered by early pioneers and was used in mining.
Over the short span of 1500 years that is estimated in the life cycle of Soda Lake, nature adapts to the high alkali content of the water attracting a wide variety of birds that thrive on the brine shrimp and underwater plants.
I look forward to a return visit in the spring to this peaceful sanctuary when
the weather warms.
For more information:
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!
Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.
All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.
