In the early 190x's the Salton Sea was created by accident when the Colorado River took the path least traveled. It is now the largest inland body of water in California.

Once upon a time developers bought up all the land around it and pitched it as a spa area, a resort area, an investment area - and it was going to be better than Palm Springs. They set up all these little cities around the sea and even went as far as naming and paving all the streets even before the property was sold.

It didnt work out that way. The water has no way out of the sea (no river flows out of it). So, the water sits there, and evaporates. It is now saltier than the ocean. The fish dont like that. The birds dont like it either, especially the birds that eat the fish that didnt like it.

Then the fish and bird die offs started, and the algae blooms too. There is a funny smell (and not 'ha-ha' funny) in the air (ever been to a fish market?). And that smell extends for miles. I think I caught it on a good day though (or I'm okay with fish markets, I guess.)

After the critters died off and started to smell, people lost a fortune. There are small communities around the sea that have been 95% abandoned.

Southern California may be a little odd, but that oddness is concentrated around the Salton Sea. These pictures are only from the eastern side of the sea. Maybe next year for the west side.

Bombay Beach used to be a really messed up area, but it's been cleaned up so much it's a regular community in the area now. For some interesting pictures try a google search. Oh, I missed the picture, but the Bombay Beach Buggy Riders do the litter pick up in the area.

They grow a bunch of hay around the Salton Sea ...

Salvation Mountain.
I dont know what to say. I knew this existed, but ran into it looking for the mud volcanoes...
This person is painting rocks and dirt. I've read that they dont accept financial donations, they just want more paint. I didnt dare get closer than I did.

Slab City
After all those wars ended the military decommissioned a base here, and gave it to the public, or at least they decided not to kick squatters off. Odd place. Snow birds flock here (think: people in RVs), the fringe flock here. I missed a picture of the "Loners On Wheels" camp. I was too busy trying to turn around. Again, I wasnt looking for this, the road just dead ended while I was looking for the mud volcanoes. You know, the ones near the Chocolate Mountains.
(Despite what youre thinking, I'm not making any of this up ... they even used to mine gold in the Chocolate mountains, and the military used to use it as a bombing range.)

Spas + RV Parks
There are bunches of spas and RV parks in this area.
I dont know why.
I did find the Fountain Of Youth Spa though...
(and if you look through their website at the local attractions you'll see a bit of stuff about mud pots and geothermal plant tours)