Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/994766
"Rising magma caused explosions of lava and superheated water to create craters and domes," says Garcia. Black Point, a striking feature on the northwestern shore, and Negit and Paoha islands are also of volcanic origin. The islands contain vents, hot springs, fumaroles and mudpots from their volcanic beginnings, which can be viewed from boats. "Can ever yone see Panum Crater?" asks Silliker. Students crane their necks to see the rim of the crater — a volcanic cone that is part of the Mono-Inyo Craters, a chain of recent volcanic cones south of the lake and east of the Sierra Nevada. Next, students look for an osprey, a large fish-eating bird of prey often called a "sea hawk." Nesting birds now include California gulls, snowy plovers and 79 other spe- cies of water birds. Students learn that there are 14 different ecological zones, more than 1,000 plant species and roughly 400 vertebrate species within the watershed, and that the Mono Basin area is one of the state's richest natural areas. Lake life includes algae, brine shrimp and alkali flies, but no fish. Four streams that f lowed into Mono L ake were diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1941 (see sidebar), wreaking havoc on the surrounding ecosys- tem. Riparian vegetation died, fisheries were destroyed, occasional floods tore through the dry floodplains, and the lake's water level dropped precipitously. In recent efforts to restore the area, new trees have been planted and limited water is flowing through several streams. " Teaching here is a scientist's dream. We definitely live in a place that's like no other." — Julia Silliker, Eastern Sierra Teachers Association Mono Lake's tufa towers inspire chemistry lessons in Julia Silliker's class, where students replicate the towers. Yvette Garcia explains that the Mono Basin is one of the state's richest natural areas. 30 cta.org Feature Julia Silliker and Yvette Garcia with their students at Mono Lake.