| Laguna Salada | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Laguna Salada Location in Baja California Show map of Baja California Laguna Salada Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico | |
| Location | Sonoran Desert Mexicali Municipality,Baja California |
| Coordinates | 32°22′N115°39′W / 32.36°N 115.65°W /32.36; -115.65 |
| Lake type | Endorheic basin |
| Etymology | Salty lagoon in Spanish |
| Primary inflows | rain dependent |
| Primary outflows | Terminal (evaporation) |
| Basin countries | Mexico |
| Max. length | 60 km (37 mi) |
| Max. width | 17 km (11 mi) |
| Shore length1 | 250 km (160 mi) |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Laguna Salada (Spanish, "salty lagoon") is a vastdry lake some 10 meters below sea level in theSonoran Desert ofBaja California, 30 km (19 mi) southwest ofMexicali.[1]This lake was called "Ha wi mək" in Cocopah language and "Ha-sa-ai" in Kumeyaay language.[citation needed] When dry, the flatness of the exposed lake bed sediments makes it a favoured location for recreational driving. It is also notorious for its dust storms when dry, usually the result ofmonsoonal thunderstorms during the summer. During times of significant rain the lagoon can fill completely with water, leaving the unpaved road along its west bank as the only means of traversing the area. Flanked by theSierra de Los Cucapah and theSierra de Juárez mountain ranges, the lake is approximately 60 km (37 mi) long and 17 km (11 mi) at its widest point.
The lake itself is located on the bottom of a shallow depression, agraben, which is linked to theSan Andreas Fault, and theEast Pacific Rise as part of theLaguna Salada Fault. This fault is connected to the Salton Trough fault which holds a similar depression, theSalton Sink. This sink is bigger than Laguna Salada and contains theSalton Sea.[2] The2010 Baja California earthquake occurred here.
In the2012 Boeing 727 crash experiment an airplane was deliberately crashed into the Laguna Salada.
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