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| Landmark #774 | San Bernardino County | Visited: December 31, 2011 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The dry lake bed known as Searles Lake! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: John Searles discovered borax on the nearby surface of Searles Lake in 1862. With his brother, Dennis, he formed the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company in 1873 and operated it until 1897. The chemicals in Searles Lake—borax, potash, soda ash, salt cake, and lithium—were deposited here by the runoff waters from melting ice-age glaciers, John Searles’ discovery has proved to be the world’s richest chemical storehouse, containing half the natural elements known to man.
OTHER TIDBITS: What the heck is borax, you ask? Well, sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7 • 10H2O) is a powdery, white compound that is very useful as a cleaning agent and bug killer! In solution, it turns water into hydrogen peroxide, which has a powerful bleaching effect on clothes! It also inhibits the metabolic processes of insects, which is why it is so effective at eliminating entire ant colonies! Still, one has to wonder what goes through the head of the guy who says, “Eureka, I’ve found borax!” |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Roadside rest area Trona Rd at Center St Trona, CA 93562 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~175mi (282km) — 3hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |