Imagine the clear night sky reflected in the waters of this age-old saline lake, covering 70 square miles (181sq km). Located at the edge of the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this Californian beauty spot is known for its dark skies and jutting, calcified ‘tufa tower’ rocks, which together inspire an ever-deeper sense of natural wonder. The area is at least 760,000 years old – and who knows how far the sights above date back.

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