Soda Lake

Soda Lake is one of the largest alkaline lakes in California. The lake is located on the southwest side of the North Carrizo Plain, 100 kilometers east of St. Louis Obispo. It has no natural drainage point, so the water will eventually evaporate and dry in the summer, giving a very distinctive view.

Soda lake: Soda lake concentrates salt when water evaporates, leaving behind white sediments of sulfates and carbonates. The outstanding features of the Carrizo Plain National Historic Sites include the white alkaline soil flatlands of Soda Lake, painted rocks, vast open grasslands and vast plains surrounded by mountains. Many wildflowers can be laid on the ground in the valley if conditions are right. Although brief, it can be breathtaking.