Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States Dec 5, 2024

Shaped by the slow passage of time, tufa—a type of porous limestone—emerges as one of nature"s most spectacular formations. While these towers can be found in many places, today"s image showcases them at Mono Lake in Mono County, California, United States. These structures develop when calcium-rich fresh water, flowing into the lake from several creeks and streams, mixes with the lake"s alkaline water. Over centuries, this interaction caused calcium carbonate to build up, forming tufa spires above the lake"s surface. To preserve the tufa towers, the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was established in 1981 by the California State Legislature.

© Susanna Patras/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Santa slalom
Dec 5, 2023Castles in the Bavarian Alps
Dec 5, 2025Maya site of Copán

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 15, 2025Black-winged stilts, France
Jan 3, 2026J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Jan 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Jul 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic
Staying in the loop
Feb 16, 2025Happy World Whale Day!
Jul 11, 2024World Population Day
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Feb 17, 2024Kailasa temple in Ellora caves
Oct 27, 2025Chhath Puja
Jun 3, 2025World Bicycle Day
Sep 21, 2025Sea otters, Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States
Jan 13, 2024Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Feb 24, 2024Almond trees in full bloom, California, USA
May 11, 2024An indigo on a branch, Texas, USA
Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, UK
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Sep 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan
Dec 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
Let the Great Backyard Bird Count begin!
Jun 3, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Sep 16, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
Mar 23, 2024World Meteorological Day
Oct 31, 2025Bran Castle in Bran, Brașov, Romania
Spirit of the Puffing Wind
Aug 7, 2024St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan, USA
Dec 17, 2023Bohemian waxwings
Boardwalk nostalgia
Jan 3, 2024Virupaksha temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Apr 19, 2024Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland