Lake Mono is about 23 km southeast of Yosemite National Park and about the same distance to Bodie if you take the southern part. It is a salt-water lake. Though various rivers flow to Lake Mono, it has no outlets, which makes it the highest salt content in most lakes. It is also one of the oldest lakes in the world.

Because of its salt content water, it provides food for the salt water flies and ship, which in turn are eaten by the migratory birds at spring and summer.