A migratory and nesting habitat, Mono Lake is home to two million birds annually. The birds feed on brine shrimp that thrive in the lake’s saline water. The lake was formed more than 760,000 years ago during the Long Valley Eruption and is recognized by its tufa towers that line the lake’s shore. The tufas were revealed when the city of Los Angeles diverted inlet waters, lowering the lake level and igniting an ongoing water war.