Photo: Severe Weather Mono Lake California

Large clouds gather as though heralding the arrival of severe weather near Mono Lake in California, USA.

While standing along the shores of Mono Lake in California, USA, the cloud formations darken in the background over the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range promising what could be a severe storm. The clouds in the foreground above Mono Lake still appear white and fluffy with the threat of some raindrops, but the sky over the horizon says different.Over the mountain range, it appears that rain has already started falling and the darkness is slowly beginning to take over the entire sky. These weather systems can pass through California as quickly as they came while others can hang around for days and add to the magical creations of Mono Lake.Along the shores of Mono Lake in California, unique rock formations protrude from the water making this area a very popular tourist destination. These rock formations or better known as tufa towers are ancient remains that have been forming for many years throughout many severe weather patterns. ... continue below the picture...

... Through heavy rain and snow storms that pounds off these towers made of calcium carbonate, crystals are formed that comes from the calcite.These severe storms that makes the salty water of Mono Lake in California overtake the towers, aids in the growth of these rock formations. There are known tufa towers that have reached heights near thirty feet while some of the smaller ones continue to grow throughout each weather system that passes over Mono Lake.Rock Formations, Mono Lake, Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve, California, USA, North America.