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By Connie Brooks
In the glory days of the Salton Sea, 1950’s and 60’s, there were more people who visited here than visited Yosemite. Hollywood stars to Albert Einstein came to bathe in the beauty, recreation and incredible sunsets and sunrises.
It’s the largest body of water in Southern California at 33 miles long and 13 miles wide. This approximately 350 square mile body of water is 54% saltier than the Pacific Ocean and although it has never been closed due to pollution, it has an unpleasant but somewhat undeserved reputation.
The stunning Salton Sea water is cleaner than most tap water according to information from a scientist at the USGS, but much, much saltier. Cleaner in fact, than any ocean you will ever step into. When you go for a swim in the cool waters of the Salton Sea, you will comfortably float better than almost anywhere else due to the increased buoyancy from the salt.
You could water ski for 33 miles without bumping into anyone. 33 miles. How long does that take I wonder? Sail on a huge body of water that offers perfect winds, or perhaps try wakeboarding, jet skiing, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, parasailing, wind surfing, scuba diving?
Scuba Diving? There are several WWII Bombers under the Salton Sea at the north end, a neighborhood that became submerged from the hurricanes including a house reportedly belonging to Frank Sinatra. Let’s not forget the railroad that also lies under the fabulous Sea. Or the old bombing range under the water at the south end.
When you get out of your car or RV, the aroma of seawater surrounds you and occasionally the sulfur smell similar to that of mineral hot springs. When the nutrient rich alga blooms in the Salton Sea, it carries with it an odor. The bloom doesn’t last long and dies quickly. When it does, it depletes the oxygen in the water. The fish in the shallower parts of the sea then come up gasping for air and follow the algae into the great hereafter. I call it Mother Natures way of population control for the over 400 million Tilapia that call the Salton Sea their home. Tilapias are native to Africa and their introduction to the Salton Sea remains a mystery to this day.
The beaches are another unique feature as the shoreline is mostly overlain with millions of barnacle shells. Barnacles were brought here in the bilge of amphibious vehicles and on the bottoms of the WWII seaplanes that used to land here years ago. They love the salt and they also have no predators. These little fellas are hard on your feet so remember to wear your shoes.
The little harbor has one boat launch and I understand that it’s one of the only ones left on this gigantic body of water. This harbor used to have 15 boat ramps in it until a series of hurricanes came through in the late 70’s a flooded out just about everything around the sea. Marinas, hotels… talk about history!
There are over 400 species of birds that visit the shimmering blue Salton Sea each year. Many are found at the south end of the Salton Sea by the Sonny Bono Wildlife Preserve where they plant fields of grasses for the geese to eat so they will stay out of the farmer’s crops. How nice.
You can put on your most comfortable walking shoes and hike the Ironwood trail within the State Park. It’s a mile long and will take you past one of the unique wetlands. You can hike to the bat caves, part of the Bradshaw Trail or up to Dos Palmas Historic site.
Over 450 camping sites are available at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area including full hook-up, partial hook-up, tent camping and primitive camping. There’s a camp store for basic necessities as well as fishing equipment, RV supplies and kayak rentals.
The first stop in this really great State Park should be the Visitor Center where you can watch a 7-minute video about the history of the Salton Sea. You can also stand underneath their White Pelican and feel the presence of his 108-inch wingspan. Don’t worry he won’t bite, he’s stuffed.
The perfect season for visiting the alluring and mysterious Salton Sea is November through May.
The Salton Sea has her not so pleasant point, but her extraordinary features greatly out weigh the unpleasant ones. In my 4 plus year of being here, I have never met anyone that said after coming here for the first time, that they didn’t fall in love with it.
Sea and Desert Interpretive Association, Salton Sea State Recreation Area, 100-225 State Park Road, North Shore, CA 92254. 760-289-9455 for information.