Mono Lake is a large, shallow salt lake in Mono County. It was created at least 760,000 years ago. The lake has no outflow. Because there is no outflow into, say, the sea, water can only evaporate. As a result, the lake has become very salty.
A characteristic feature is the turrets like the one in the picture, created by the interaction of freshwater sources and salt water. The towers consist of calcium carbonate and are called "tuff towers".
The name Mono Lake comes from the original inhabitants, Mono meaning fly in it.