This photograph, taken at Mono Lake, California, appears in the Native American Historical Novel, Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya. This Yosemite book is also included in Books set in Mono Lake.
The structures that appear in the lake are known as Tufas. A Tufa (Too-fa) is a variety of limestone, formed when carbonates in the form of limestone, precipitate out of the water. For example, those found at Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra. These continue to build over millennia to form towers that eventually rise above the water surface.
Mono Lake Paiutes, California
The Kootzaduka’a (Kucadikadi/Kutzadika’a) is the southern group of the northern Paiutes (Numu), whose homelands have been around the Mono Lake area for several millennia. Traditionally, the Kootzaduka’a foraged for Kootzavi (alkaline brine fly pupae) from the lake during the season. The derivation of Kootzaduka’a could be from the Indian term for “fly eater”. Mono Lake was also called Teniega Bah. The name “Mono” is derived from the Yokut “Monachi” referring to people of eastern and western Sierra Nevada.
Chief Tenaya of the Ahwahneechees was born at Mono Lake. His father had brought his people from Ahwahnee (Yosemite Valley) in the late 18th century, due to the “black sickness” that had decimated his people. They were welcomed and settled with their neighbors at the lakeside. He married a Kootzaduka’a and Tenaya was born out of their union. After his father died, Tenaya succeeded him as Chief. Following the advice given to Tenaya by the shaman, he brought his family and followers back to Ahwahnee. This happened in the early part of the 19th century.
Read the epic and true story of Chief Tenaya and his people in the Native American historical novel Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya. This 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rated book is set in Yosemite National Park and around Mono Lake, at the time of the California Gold Rush.
Hi, I am Paul, photographer, and author of the historical novel “Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya”. This ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ illustrated book is available in eBook and paperback formats through all major online booksellers from $2.99 (e.g. Amazon, Bookshop.org, IndieBound, Apple Books, etc) - details can be found in "Purchasing Options" in the "About the Book" drop-down.