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THE ALKALINE AND BORACIC LAKES OF 
CALIFORNIA. 
By J. ARTHUR PHILLIPS, F.G.S. 
T MMEDIATELY east of the range of the Sierra Nevada is an 
extensive region of alkaline lakes and hot springs, of which 
very large areas are almost totally barren, the only vegetation 
consisting of wild sage, yucca, a few cacti, and scanty tufts 
of bunch-grass. 
This district affords, in its many extensive craters and in its 
lavas, basalts and obsidians, the most conclusive evidence of its 
volcanic origin, while its solfataras and boiling springs may be 
regarded as the last representatives of active vulcanicity. 
Although this region is one of great scientific interest, and 
may eventually become industrially important, it appears to be 
but little known in this country, and it has therefore been 
thought that a brief description of the district, as well as of that 
of the borax lakes, lying on the western side of the Sierra, 
might not be without interest to English readers. 
The most remarkable of the alkaline lakes of this portion of 
California are Mono and Owen’s Lakes. The former lies in a 
depression occupying a portion of an elevated plateau of desert 
land, situated at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada between 
the head waters of Owen’s and Walker’s Rivers. The distance 
from the summit of the range to the lake-shore is about six 
miles, and the difference of elevation is about 6,000 feet. On 
all sides, excepting towards the Sierra, this lake is surrounded 
by a wide belt of desert, the total area of which is from 400 to 
500 square miles. 
Mono Lake is about fourteen miles long, from east to west, 
and nine wide, from north to south ; but it was formerly much 
larger than it is at present ; this is indicated by numerous ter- 
races, by means of which the lines of its ancient shores may be 
readily traced. 
The water of this lake, which has a high specific gravity, and 
is alkaline and extensively saline, is not easily thrown into 
NEW SERIES, VOL. I. — NO. IT. M 
