Once a thriving desert oasis, the Salton Sea in California is now drying up, turning toxic, and starting to look more like an apocalyptic movie set than a vacation spot. But beneath the cracked shoreline, toxic dust, and moving mud volcanoes, this troubled lake hides one of the most important energy resources of the century.

Surrounded by 11 geothermal power plants, researchers discovered what could be the world’s largest lithium deposit — a massive source of “white gold” sitting right under the Salton Sea. And for the first time, California may soon be able to extract and refine its own lithium, powering EV batteries, grid storage, and the future of clean energy.
This video explores the strange past, toxic present, and potentially world-changing future of the Salton Sea and its lithium reserves.