Posted in Southern California
September 29, 2016
The Abandoned Town In Southern California That Most People Stay Far, Far Away From
When it comes to all-time lows, both figuratively and literally, you just can’t get any lower than California’s Bombay Beach. For starters, it’s located at the southern end of the San Andreas Fault. So close, in fact, that on Monday of this week more than 200 earthquakes hit Bombay Beach. But that’s nothing in comparison to the luckless history surrounding this community on the Salton Sea.
At 232 feet below sea level, Bombay Beach is literally the second lowest point in the continental U.S., second only to Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level. It's located on an inland sea in Southern California.
Historically, the bad luck of the Salton Sea extends perhaps millions of years back to when part of the Gulf got cut off as the Colorado River deposited a huge delta that blocked the channel. The unfortunate result was the stranding of the Salton Sea in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
Historically, the bad luck of the Salton Sea extends perhaps millions of years back to when part of the Gulf got cut off as the Colorado River deposited a huge delta that blocked the channel. The unfortunate result was the stranding of the Salton Sea in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
And then in 1905, some engineers screwed up and accidentally flooded the Salton Sea with waters from the Colorado River for two solid years. By all accounts, the results were well-received at the time. Small resorts sprang up around the rim of the new lake, including popular Bombay Beach.
But no one could know at the time what lay ahead for the Salton, or for Bombay Beach.
But no one could know at the time what lay ahead for the Salton, or for Bombay Beach.
People moved here, built their lives along this, the largest lake in California. And life on the "Salton Riveria" was pretty satisfying - for a while.
And then things went sideways. By 1970, the lake had become so polluted it was unbearable. The Salton Lake is approximately fifteen-by-thirty-five miles and the entire lake became toxic for most fish breeds. The fish population started to die off, and then wash ashore - and then smell!
But fate wasn't finished cursing the Salton Sea yet. It developed a big algae problem and then a "salt" problem.
The ill-fated resort community's fate was cast.
But fate wasn't finished cursing the Salton Sea yet. It developed a big algae problem and then a "salt" problem.
The ill-fated resort community's fate was cast.
If earthquakes and dead fish aren't enough to deter your visit to this dead valley along the Salton Sea, then perhaps the ruins of this once thriving resort community will.
Unless, of course, you love being overcome with deep despair and overwhelming grief.
And unless, of course, you have a sixth sense about the lives that may still try to coexist in the rubble that remains here at Bombay Beach.
For millions of years, even alongside a "sea" of water, the luck of this little corner of the world has run dry.
And while some very talented photographers have the ability to make the "Salton Riveria" look romantic and artsy...
And while some very talented photographers have the ability to make the "Salton Riveria" look romantic and artsy...
it's still just an unlucky, has-been resort...a sordid mess in the wake of ruined lives.
Welcome to Bombay Beach.
In 2010, the U.S. Census-designated area known as Bombay Beach had a recorded population of 295 residents, down from 366 in the 2000 census. Most residents live in an area segregated from the ruins depicted in this article.
