Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Desolate, Yet Strangely Compelling...


Heading south toward Anza-Borrego State Park...
Photo © Alice Joyce

....a short detour from the highway leads to a desolate stretch of seashore, where the Salton Sea appears like a futuristic, post-apocalyptic landscape.
Abandoned buildings and heaps of trash surround the area where we parked the car, while on the northeastern shoreline across the water, a State Recreation Area spans 14 miles along Highway 111. To read more about this strangely compelling inland body of water, its history and current conditions, visit the Salton Sea home page on: www.sci.sdsu.edu/

4 comments:

  1. I ADORE this photo, it's amazing! love xx

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  2. I'm glad you made it out there. The quality of the light there, cutting through the thick air below ocean-sea level, makes for some amazing lighting effects. Richard Misrach did some wonderful and luminous work there in the 80s. Maybe you know the series?

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  3. James,
    Unfamiliar with, but will look for Misrach's photos.
    I've had endless flashbacks since returning home from this trip. It was not nearly long enough to spend the kind of time necessary to take in each of the destinations and stops along the way.
    I understand why you are a 'desert rat.' The landscape takes hold of you and doesn't let go. I'm still in its grip.

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