Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States Dec 5, 2024

Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States

Shaped by the slow passage of time, tufa—a type of porous limestone—emerges as one of nature"s most spectacular formations. While these towers can be found in many places, today"s image showcases them at Mono Lake in Mono County, California, United States. These structures develop when calcium-rich fresh water, flowing into the lake from several creeks and streams, mixes with the lake"s alkaline water. Over centuries, this interaction caused calcium carbonate to build up, forming tufa spires above the lake"s surface. To preserve the tufa towers, the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was established in 1981 by the California State Legislature.

© Susanna Patras/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Dec 5, 2023Castles in the Bavarian Alps

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Feb 10, 2024Giant anteater
Jun 4, 2025Moritzburg Castle, Saxony, Germany
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Oct 12, 2023Palouse region, Idaho, USA
Feb 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Apr 2, 2024Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
Jun 12, 2025Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
Sep 2, 2023Allens hummingbird
Jun 18, 2025Asian swallowtail butterfly
Oct 6, 2025Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Jun 9, 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
Dec 18, 2024Jim Corbett National Park, India
Jul 3, 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida, United States
Feb 28, 2025Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
Sep 12, 2025Spinner dolphin pod
Dec 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Nov 19, 2023Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Oct 20, 2023Pygmy three-toed sloth
Feb 15, 2025Icicles of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan
Nov 2, 2024American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Jun 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA
Oct 5, 2023Gentoo penguins, Antarctica
Mar 13, 2024Lesser flamingos, Lake Magadi, Kenya
Jan 5, 2025Plum-headed parakeet
May 5, 2024Colonnade in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Oct 10, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy