Mono Lake

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mono-lake

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Mono Lake?Mono County, eastern California, USA
2. How big is Mono Lake?Approximately 70 square miles, subject to significant fluctuation based on water levels
3. What language do people speak in Mono Lake?English is the primary language in surrounding communities
4. When was Mono Lake built?Geologically formed at least 760,000 years ago
5. What makes Mono Lake so salty?Mono Lake has no natural outlet, so water only leaves by evaporation. This leaves behind dissolved salts that build up over time, making the lake very salty.
6. Why do so many birds visit Mono Lake?The lake is full of brine shrimp and alkali flies, which are food for many birds. About two million birds from over 100 species stop there each year to eat and rest.

Endorheic basin: A drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans.
Hypersaline: Water with a salt concentration significantly higher than that of typical seawater.
Biogenic: Produced or formed by living organisms.
Limnology: The scientific study of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of inland waters.