California’s Phantom Lake, Tulare Lake, is a body of water that was drained in the 19th century, and has recently come back to life, with a vengeance. Historians say that it is already too late to stop this vengeful lake from wreaking havoc on the towns and farms around it.
So what is Tulare Lake, and why is it considered a Phantom Lake?
If you look at the history of Tular Lake, it was once the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi River, and it covered the entire area of what is now considered Central Valley. It was a rich area, and supported one of the largest populations of Native Americans North of Mexico. In 1805, European Explorers came across it. Although during the 19th century, the lake was drained overtime due to flooding problems and agricultural purposes.
Tulare Lake is considered a phantom lake, as occasionally it will fill back up with water, and due to California’s recent weather, it is coming back.
According to an article from The New York Times, Tulare Lake has risen to cover 30 square miles due to all the atmospheric rivers, and could expand to cover 200 square miles over the next coming months.
How are people affected by this resurrection of the Tulare Lake?
For people living in the areas being flooded, this revival is a slow-motion disaster for them. It threatens to flood King’s County, and it’s 2 billion dollar agricultural industry as well as endanger Corcoran’s prisons and homes.
Greg Gatzga, Corcoran’s city manager, says, “We know we’re at the shoreline of the old Tulare Lake, so naturally it floods there. We all kind of think that we’ll be able to go on with our lives and not worry about it, but it’s a reality.”
In the close future, a lot of areas might flood and put agriculture and homes in peril, as Tulare Lake comes back to life with a vengeance.
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