Lonely Days (#1, Explore)

    Moody weather at the end of the monsoon season. Salt / muck flats at the south end of the Salton Sea. At one time, when the water was higher, these trees probably provided roosting and nesting structure for cormorants, blue herons, egrets, osprey, etc. Now they're too far "inland" for anything except the raptors--I regularly see a Peregrine Falcon on this set of trees. Occasionally when the wind blows, or after a deluge of monsoonal rain, shallow water surrounds these trees--thus the muck underfoot when I tried to approach any further.

    The Salton Sea is a strange place. Created by a dike break in ag lands along the Colorado River about 107 years ago, the Salton Sea partially fills a basin that was historically a body of water, filling and evaporating repeatedly, leaving much salinity behind. Today the Salton Sea is basically a repository for agricultural waste water and all the chemicals/salts/sh*t /garbage that it carries (some of it from Mexico via the New River). Despite the regular influx of waste water, the Salton Sea is shrinking, due to evaporation in the extreme heat of summer. The sea, actually California's largest "lake", is currently about 30% saltier than the ocean. As the salt increases, the fish die, and birds that utilize the area (Pacific Flyway, major migratory route), are negatively affected, sometimes with large die-off's as well. Right now it's a pretty "fragrant" area, with the beaches lined with dead fish.

    Comments and faves

    1. atmosphoto, jimf_29605, Eine-reise, one8052949, and 326 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. jimf_29605 (8 months ago | reply)

      Amazing image, Charlene!

    3. Robin Black Photography (8 months ago | reply)

      Love the light here--spotlighting the trees and all broody in the background. Lovely!!

    4. delrcher (8 months ago | reply)

      Nice colors -- the Planet is ever changing!

    5. Stephen Fischer (8 months ago | reply)

      Great capture of the starkness of this lake.

    6. Tony Immoos (8 months ago | reply)

      Excellent shot! They look small but I have a feeling they're quite large.

    7. NatureShutterbug (8 months ago | reply)

      Lovely light; lovely framing.

    8. sea25bill (8 months ago | reply)

      Nice shot, great color and light.

    9. oldmantravels (8 months ago | reply)

      Excellent color, contrast, and subject. Winner photograph all the way. OMT

    10. Just Used Pixels (8 months ago | reply)

      Love the simplicity and starkness of this shot.
      --
      Seen on your photo stream. ( ?² )

    11. anandamoy (8 months ago | reply)

      Congratulations on 'Explore'!
      This is a wonderful shot!

      A Composition.
      flic.kr/p/8Tf843

      Seen in “interesting photos from the last 7 days” and liked in first view.

    12. jody9 (8 months ago | reply)

      You got some GREAT light there on my favorite trees! Tremendous image!

    13. Tootsiekat / kathy (8 months ago | reply)

      Strike shot Char...interesting info and colors are refreshing. It's about time you put something on here :)

    14. teacher yang (8 months ago | reply)

      Great shot, really gives the viewers a sense of loneliness the moment they look at it.

    15. GerryT (8 months ago | reply)

      Thanks for the writeup, too. It augments the experience of the photo nicely.

    16. Sima30 (8 months ago | reply)

      the Destini of life could be title of this awesome picture.

    17. srsyrus (8 months ago | reply)

      Congrats on Explore :)

    18. Tatters:) (8 months ago | reply)

      a strange place, indeed. But beautiful image.
      Thanks for info (and visit)

      --
      Seen on your photo stream. (?)

    19. .. jfraile (OFF busy) (8 months ago | reply)

      Awesome shot!

      Congratulations on Explore

      Via Today's Explore at #10 on Fluidr

    20. Neticola (8 months ago | reply)

      Very nice work, very well deserved. ah! Congratulations with Explore!

      Via Today's Explore at #10 on Fluidr

    21. J.B.C. (8 months ago | reply)

      excelente ...felicidades por el explore.excellent ... congratulations on the explore.

    22. AnZanov (8 months ago | reply)

      beautiful light and contrast, I like the cut too

      Via Today's Explore at #10 on Fluidr

    23. Sebastian.Schneider (8 months ago | reply)

      Great capture!
      Congrats on Explore!
      Have a nice day!

    24. The Stig 2009 (8 months ago | reply)

      Brilliant Capture
      Congratulations on Explore!

      Via Today's Explore at #10 on Fluidr

    25. Rajan Rai (8 months ago | reply)

      Wonderful image....

    26. B M KANOJA (8 months ago | reply)

      beautiful picture congratulation for explore.

      Via Today's Explore at #10 on Fluidr

    27. nb-hjwmpa (8 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic shot !!!!!

    28. Antoniociro (8 months ago | reply)

      Awesome shot!
      Congratulations on Explore!
      AntonioR

    29. cgames (8 months ago | reply)

      Excellent

    30. rycuz (8 months ago | reply)

      Incredible. Is the only word i can say

    31. Tom ♠ (8 months ago | reply)

      Delightful shot, well composed, excellent image

    32. MistyDays / CB (8 months ago | reply)

      Wow---#1, just out of the blue. Thanks to all who have participated in sending this shot to #1. ;-)

    33. Scat2906 (8 months ago | reply)

      So stark against the gun-metal blue sky, I love it. Congrats on Explore.

    34. Claudio Marchiori (8 months ago | reply)

      A wonderful composition!
      A well-deserved Explore.
      Greetings.

    35. solonanda (8 months ago | reply)

      Congrats on Explore
      Magic shot!

      Via Today's Explore at #1 on Fluidr

    36. 无奈那天 (8 months ago | reply)

      Amazing. Lonely I like.

    37. crissime (8 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful!!!

    38. Mimi Ditchie (8 months ago | reply)

      Very dramatic and striking photo, seen at #1 in my contacts Explore photos. (congrats!!!) And thanks for the explanation, I have been curious about this odd "sea".
      --
      Seen in my contacts' Explore photos. ( ?² )

    39. Soleil is me. (8 months ago | reply)

      Speechless...
      ………
      Quote of the Day
      The way up and the way down are one and the same.
      Heraclitus mentioned.

      Regards and hugs my artist friend:)

      Sunny

    40. JAMoutinho (apprentice photographer) (8 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful light in a great compo. Congrats on Explore.

      Via Today's Explore at #1 on Fluidr

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