Avishai Artsy

I'm Avishai Artsy. I'm a senior producer on Today Explained.

I'm Avishai Artsy. I'm a senior producer on Today Explained.

I'm Avishai Artsy. I'm a senior producer on Today Explained.

Yeah, I went to a place called the Salton Sea. It's in the desert in Southern California, just north of the border with Mexico, and the area between the Salton Sea and the border is called Imperial Valley.

Yeah, I went to a place called the Salton Sea. It's in the desert in Southern California, just north of the border with Mexico, and the area between the Salton Sea and the border is called Imperial Valley.

Yeah, I went to a place called the Salton Sea. It's in the desert in Southern California, just north of the border with Mexico, and the area between the Salton Sea and the border is called Imperial Valley.

It's mostly desert, some agricultural land, and right next to the Salton Sea at the southeastern corner, there's an area called the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, and that's where they are pumping brine, very heavily salty water, underneath the ground, because within that brine is lithium.

It's mostly desert, some agricultural land, and right next to the Salton Sea at the southeastern corner, there's an area called the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, and that's where they are pumping brine, very heavily salty water, underneath the ground, because within that brine is lithium.

It's mostly desert, some agricultural land, and right next to the Salton Sea at the southeastern corner, there's an area called the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, and that's where they are pumping brine, very heavily salty water, underneath the ground, because within that brine is lithium.

Yeah, it's kind of a wild place. Here's how Manuel Pastor describes it. He's a professor at the University of Southern California, and he co-authored a book about the lithium that is in Imperial Valley.

Yeah, it's kind of a wild place. Here's how Manuel Pastor describes it. He's a professor at the University of Southern California, and he co-authored a book about the lithium that is in Imperial Valley.

Yeah, it's kind of a wild place. Here's how Manuel Pastor describes it. He's a professor at the University of Southern California, and he co-authored a book about the lithium that is in Imperial Valley.

In 1901, there was a company that tapped into the Colorado River to irrigate the farmlands, and the US government stopped them. So they went to Mexico and made a deal with the dictator there to funnel water from the Colorado River south of the border.

In 1901, there was a company that tapped into the Colorado River to irrigate the farmlands, and the US government stopped them. So they went to Mexico and made a deal with the dictator there to funnel water from the Colorado River south of the border.

In 1901, there was a company that tapped into the Colorado River to irrigate the farmlands, and the US government stopped them. So they went to Mexico and made a deal with the dictator there to funnel water from the Colorado River south of the border.

So that's how the Salton Sea was created. Irrigation water continued to fill the Salton Sea, and it took a big turn in the 1950s and 60s.

So that's how the Salton Sea was created. Irrigation water continued to fill the Salton Sea, and it took a big turn in the 1950s and 60s.

So that's how the Salton Sea was created. Irrigation water continued to fill the Salton Sea, and it took a big turn in the 1950s and 60s.

Developers went in. They built resorts and yacht clubs. People were water skiing. The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby all vacationed there. The place was hopping. It was called the American Riviera.

Developers went in. They built resorts and yacht clubs. People were water skiing. The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby all vacationed there. The place was hopping. It was called the American Riviera.