"Named for Sonny Bono " a Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Travel Page by Basaic

The Salton Sea is located in the southeastern corner of California, and is actually a lake which occupies a desert basin known as the Salton Sink or Salton Basin. This body of water covers a surface area of 376 square miles, making the largest lake in California. The Sea’s current elevation is about 227 feet below mean sea level; it has a maximum depth of 51 feet. The history of the lakes or seas in the area began over 10,000 years ago. The Salton Sea was named in 1905 due to the high level of salt in the water. The Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of ducks, geese and shore birds in 1930. In 1955 Salton Sea State Park was dedicated. The main part of the reguge was renamed for entertainer and congressman Sonny Bono, who was a strong advocate for the Salton Sea. In addition to the main area of the refuge the Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge also includes Unit 1 to the south and a good portion of the waterway.

One of the attractions of the Sea is the abundance of life, manifested in the hundreds of species of birds that reside in, or visit, this important wetland habitat. The Sea teems with fish. The observation deck at the main area and the one at Unit 1 offer good views of the sea without disturbing the wildlife.

There are also trails in both areas that offer a closer view of the sea and its residents. This photo shows the view from the top of Rock Hill.