Mono Lake

lake, California, United States

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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Mono Lake is a saline lake located in eastern California, United States. It is approximately 14 miles (22 kilometers) long. The lake is situated in a region historically inhabited by the Mono people, Native American groups who spoke a language belonging to the Uto-Aztecan family. The Mono people traditionally lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Great Basin area.12

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lake
Chemical precipitates
…high alkalinity levels, such as Mono Lake in California, can still support some forms of life.
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…high alkalinity levels, such as Mono Lake in California, can still support some forms of life.
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shadow biosphere
…of unique microorganisms living in Mono Lake in California could be representatives of an extant shadow biosphere. These microorganisms derive their energy from arsenic, concentrations of which are extraordinarily high in the lake. Because arsenic is very similar to phosphorus, can form biomolecules spontaneously, and may have been present in…
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…of unique microorganisms living in Mono Lake in California could be representatives of an extant shadow biosphere. These microorganisms derive their energy from arsenic, concentrations of which are extraordinarily high in the lake. Because arsenic is very similar to phosphorus, can form biomolecules spontaneously, and may have been present in…
Read More