Tufa towers
are found in a few locations around the world. Primarily they are formed
as a fresh water source percolates up through the earth and comes in contact
with denser, salty waters, like that found in Mono Lake.
A chemical
reaction produces limestone as the calcium in the
fresh water meets the carbonates in the denser salty lake water and
pillars are formed.
It takes centuries for a tufa tower
to develop and they grow exclusively under the water. The scenic
Mono Lake tufa towers only emerged
beginning in 1941, when the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began
diverting water and the lake receeded.
More
on tufas . . .
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