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Show 189 This chapter may be considered as the continuation of the former chapters on the mineral springs of Colorado and New Mexico, published iu Vol. Ill of the Survey Reports- Very respectfully, your obedient servant, OSCAR LOEW, Chemist and Mineralogist. Lieut. GEO. M. WHEELER. Corps of Engineers, in Charge. CONTENTS. Owens Lake, Inyo County, California- Black Lake, Mono County, California- Virgin River, Southern Nevada- Salt well, Stone's Ferrv, Southern Nevada- Thermal Springs of Santa Barbara, Cal.- of San Bernardino, Cal.- of San Juan Capistrano, Cal.- of Cabezon Valley, San Diego County, California- of Little Owens Lake, Inyo County, California- Thermal Acid Springs, Coso range, in Inyo County, California- Sulphur Springs from the San Fernando Mountain, Los Angeles County, California- Little Yosemite- Soda Spring, Kern County, California- Mineral Spring of Uncino Rancho, Los Angeles County, California- Thermal Spring of Benton, Mono County, California- Mineral Spring of Little Creek Cation, San Bernardino, Cal.- Brackish Spring of the Dos Palms Oasis, San Diego, Cal.- Brackish water from the saline flats of the Mohave, California- Bitter Springs from Mineral Park, Northern Arizona- Gypsum Spring from Detrital Valley, Northwestern Arizona- Conclusions and remarks- Notes on the mineral springs encountered by Mr. Douglas A. Joy, geologist. THE OWENS LAKE, INYO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. This lake is, next to Mono Lake* in Mono County, California, certainly the most interesting lake on the North American Continent. Situated in a basin of about 4,000 feet above sea- level, its shores are bounded on the west side by the majestic Sierra Nevada, rising abruptly to towering peaks of 14,000 to 15,000 feet; and on the east side by the precipitous Inyo range, with the famous mines of Cerro Gordo and an altitude of 10,000 feet. Standing on the summit of this range, the panorama spread out in all directions is one of the grandest, most overwhelming views to behold, alfhough there is no verdure to delight the eye and to support the ornamentation of the scenery. How far beneath us lies the Salinas Valley on one side, the Owens Valley on the other! How perpendicular the mountains, how diminutive the lake! How are we deluded by the optic refraction of the superposed strata of air of different temperature! Truly, to observe the setting sun on these heights, the changing tints of the sky, the spreading of darkness over peaks and valley, is a spectacle never to be forgotten. The Owens Lake has no outlet and is fed by the Owens River, a stream about 30 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and having a velocity of about 5 miles per hour. As the level j of the lake remains constant, there must be a perfect equilibrium between the amount ' of evaporation and the incoming water. The lake having 110 square miles surface, an • evaporation of 4.6 feet per year would suffice to swallow up the annual volume of Owens River. Those who cannot appreciate the amount of evaporation, have invented the hypothesis of a subterranean outlet, as in the case of Great Salt Lake in Utah. The water has a strong saline and alkaline taste, and is far- famed in Mono and Inyo Counties for its cleansing properties, surpassing those of soap. Neither fish nor mol-lnsks can exist, but some forms of lower animal life are plentiful, as infusoria;, cope-poda, and larva? of insects. While around the lake the vegetation consists of two salt plants, Bryzopyrum and Halostachys, the vegetation in the lake is coufined to an algous or fungoid plant, floating in small globular masses, of whitish or yellowish- green color in the water. These accumulate on certain localities of the lake- bottom aud near the shore and • undergo decay, emitting a feces- like odor, as observed also in the treatment of albuminous matters with caustic alkalies. One of the most striking phenomena is the occurrence of a singular fly, that covers the shore of the lake in a stratum 2 feet in width and 2 inches in thickness, aud occurs nowhere else in the county ; only at Mouo Lake, another alkaline lake, it is seen again. The insect is inseparable rromThe alkaline water, and feeds upon the organic matter of the above- named alga that is washed in masses upon the shore. In the larva state it inhabits the alkaline lake, in especially great numbers in August and September, and the squaws congregate here to fish with baskets for them. Dried in the sun and mixed with nVnr, they serve as a sort of bread of great delicacy for the Indians. * This lake is said to resemble the Owens Lake in all particulars. |