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

Santa slalom
5 Dec 2023Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
5 Dec 2025Maya site of Copán

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Will we be ready for the ‘big one?’
Shining city on the hill
16 Aug 2025The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
29 Nov 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
28 Feb 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Where can you find this cute creature?
Colors of spring
25 Apr 2025World Penguin Day
Kings of the north
28 Nov 2023Giving Tuesday
Regal Radiance
18 Mar 2025Red rock formations, Sedona, Arizona, United States
24 Oct 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
20 Sep 2025Oktoberfest begins!
May the 4th be with you
7 May 2024A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
23 Apr 2024Saint Georges Day
Alpine grandeur
7 Nov 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
1 Sep 2025Rock layers in Zumaia, Basque Country, Spain
23 Jul 2025Vatican City, Rome, Italy
The bears and the bees…
4 Mar 2024Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
Magnificent moss, magnified
In hot water
3 May 2025Happy International Astronomy Day!
21 Nov 2024Lion cubs, South Africa
12 Dec 2023Reed bunting
Single file, please!
A butterflys best friend