The Salton Sea is located just south of Palm Springs and just north of the Mexican border. Oddly enough, it is the largest lake in California. But unfortunately, it is also the saltiest, most depressing, deserted place I've ever seen.
Although the Salton Sea is an important resource for migrating birds and waterfowl, the lake has become increasingly toxic due to pollution, salinity levels and bacteria. The only fish that have withstood the peculiar water are Tilapia and even they are dying off from deoxygenation and parasites. All along the coast are creepy dead fish with hollowed out eyes.
From the 1920's through the 1960's, the Salton Sea was a tourist attraction and water recreation destination. Now, it is anything but.
Isn't this the perfect setting for a horror movie? Can't you just envision a bunch of crazed locals hanging out at the "Fireside Lounge?" This was one of the eeriest places of all!
Dotted along the coast are several small beach communities. Each one, a ghost town with abandoned buildings, burnt trailer homes, shells of what once perhaps thrived.
What appears to be sand from a distance is actual broken barnacles, salt encrusted shells, and fish bones. I wonder if these two were friends or lovers?
From the road and tucked in the safe confines of your car, the Salton Sea looks like a pretty body of water set in the middle of the desert. But this is a classic case of things are not always what they seem... 
What appears to be sand from a distance is actual broken barnacles, salt encrusted shells, and fish bones. I wonder if these two were friends or lovers?
Do you believe? I'm pretty sure that aliens invaded and took over this entire area.
I could not wait to get out of there.
Appearances can be deceiving... and this place smells like death.
15 comments:
It's the perfect place for a zombie attack. (Zombie fish?)
I have some relatives who used to go down there a lot, but that was years ago. I've never been. Maybe I'll take The Granddaughter.
Beautiful photos of a completely creepy place!
Scary as it is, it's excellent photography fodder.
That Fireside Lounge? I don't care if I was parched in the desert, I wouldn't want to go there! Do people actually live there? Were there houses?
I can see why you wanted to get out of there. The dead fish make me sad, particularly the two lying side by side.
I love all of your work, but as of right now, this collection is my favorite.
The emptiness is so eerie. Beautiful pictures!
Your photography as well as the writing really seem to capture the dreary qualities of this place. But oddly enough, I kind of want to go there now!
From your photos you would never know it was so desolate and creepy. Those photos are just gorgeous, even the dead fish look great. How strange that this once tourist destination has becomes so deadly.
From what I understand, it's been a while since you could swim in it (or would want to, I should say) and the tourist population has declined since then. How eerie - those fish would have done me in as well. Thought about you when we were in Vegas this last weekend - maybe we can meet up when we come back sometime!
Wow, that's eerie. So blindingly white and bleached. Those fish carcasses are frightening.
What great photos.
Yuck, and I thought the Great Salt Lake was depressing!
Hauntingly beautiful photos, though!
Wow, the photos are fabulous.
NOT my next vacation spot.
For as pretty as it looks, it seems so lonely.
great shots.
wow, that is a totally creepy place. i did a double take on the picture of the building that has the shadow figures painted at each end - gah! and those fish with no eyes are just depressing!
Borrego Springs, just south of the Salton Sea, is wonderful if you're looking for a quiet getaway. (Just don't go into town. Stick to the resort - http://www.borregoranchresort.com/)
OMG - that WAS straight out of a horror movie....way, way too creepy!
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