The Salton Sea

A recent article in Discover Magazine (November, 2000) discussed the Salton Sea, which is a large inland lake southwest of Palm Springs in the California desert. About a century ago, floodwaters from the Colorado River broke through irrigation channels and filled up a dry basin. To this day water continues to run into the basin, but has no where to run out. As the water fills up the basin, it brings with it salt and minerals, as well as nutrients and fertilizers from nearby farms. About six feet of water enters the lake every year and about the same amount evaporates. However, the salt, minerals, and nutrients remain behind. This means that about 4 million tons of salt enter the lake each year.

This extremely saline lake has a major impact on the types of organisms that can live there. The problem that the organisms must overcome is the fact the water is so hypertonic that all the water in the organisms’ cells will osmose into the environment. Only organisms that have adaptations to osmoregulate under such conditions, such as some types of fish, brine shrimp, and bacteria, are able to live there.