Harper Lake: An Oasis in the Mojave Desert

This weekend, we toured the Black Mountain Wilderness for my birthday, and Harper Lake was our first stop.

The marsh area is just a tiny fraction of the huge dry lake basin.

The grass and reeds provide food and shelter for birds and mammals. The area is crisscrossed with game trails, and the air is alive with birds.

Here is a very short video of the swirling flock of gnat catchers:

Huge solar power facilities make clean energy and release puffs of steam adjacent to the wildlife refuge.

My dog loves following game trails as much as I do! He was not allowed to get wet or drink, however, because of the salt crust forming on the perimeter. Alkaline water can be hazardous to our health.

Black Mountain beckons in the distance.

We tore across the white silt of the dry lake bed to enter the volcanic canyon ahead. I am eager to discover as many petroglyphs there as possible, stay tuned for part 2!

Thank you so much for reading and following. I want to give a big shoutout to all 602 of my followers! Your upvotes made this trip possible. I cashed out my 50 sbd when it was at $12, otherwise my bday would have been a stay-cation. I am filled with gratitude and Steem Pride!

Remember, every meaningful comment gets my upvote.
Have a blessed day, and may your desert always hold a gem of lifegiving water.
Love,Cat
@creationofcare