Environmental stories: Salton Sea

The Salton Sea, California was created in 1905 when the Colorado river levees broke. The floodwaters filled the area of the Salton Sink that previously lay below sea level and created the sea that remains today. The sea flourished attracting tourism, numerous resorts and a healthy environment for fish and bird life. Agricultural run off from the surrounding valleys has slowly polluted the water causing resorts to shut down and the massive die-off of fish and bird life. The sea still attracts over 400 types of birds and the odd curious tourist who will find great beauty in its abandon.