Salton Sea

An inland saline lake created in 1905 by an engineering mishap on the Colorado River, Salton Sea once attracted more visitors than Yosemite National Park. Located three hours southeast of Los Angeles, the desert oasis known as Bombay Beach became a resort destination for Hollywood A-List revelers such as Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys. By the early 1960’s, however, Bombay Beach had transformed from star-studded oasis into barren, nightmarish landscape.
An algae bloom caused by agricultural runoff and overpopulation resulted in the suffocation of tilapia fish which had been introduced to attract sport fishermen to Salton Sea. Millions of tilapia carcasses washed up on the shoreline, their calcified bones replacing sand. The sulfurous stench of death still permeates the air: a visceral reminder of an environmental disaster looming just beyond the horizon. Scientists predict that by the end of this century, Salton Sea will have fully evaporated leaving behind only toxic chemical dust.
In spite of these facts, all is not lost. By the circular laws of nature, the death of Bombay Beach may signify the dawn of its life anew as a destination for immersive public art.